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CVE Record

CVE-2022-4021: Permalink Manager Lite <= 2.2.20.1 - Cross-Site Request Forgery

The Permalink Manager Lite plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 2.2.20.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the extra_actions function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to change plugin settings including permalinks and site maps, via forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-4021 affects the WordPress Permalink Manager Lite plugin through version 2.2.20.1. An attacker could trick a logged-in administrator into clicking a crafted link, causing plugin settings such as permalinks or sitemaps to change without the administrator intending it.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority WordPress hygiene issue if the plugin is installed. The main business risk is unauthorized site configuration change, which can disrupt routing, SEO, and sitemap behavior.

Technical view

The issue is cross-site request forgery in the plugin's extra_actions function, caused by missing or incorrect nonce validation. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8 high. The described impact includes unauthorized changes to plugin settings, with potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Permalink Manager Lite versions up to and including 2.2.20.1, especially where administrators remain logged in while handling external links or emails.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction: an administrator must be tricked into performing an action such as clicking a link.

Researcher notes

Evidence is clear on the CSRF class, affected version ceiling, vulnerable function, and required administrator interaction. The source bundle does not provide exploit-in-the-wild evidence or a named fixed version, so remediation should be verified against vendor guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Update Permalink Manager Lite to a non-vulnerable release per vendor or WordPress plugin guidance.
  • Restrict WordPress administrator access to trusted users only.
  • Ask administrators to avoid opening untrusted links while authenticated to WordPress.
  • Review permalink and sitemap settings for unauthorized changes.
  • Check Wordfence and WordPress plugin references for current remediation details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory WordPress sites for Permalink Manager Lite installations.
  • Confirm installed plugin versions are later than 2.2.20.1.
  • Review administrative activity for unexpected plugin setting changes.
  • Verify plugin actions enforce nonce validation in a safe test environment.
  • Check site behavior and SEO-critical routes after remediation.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-352: User-session and phishing behavior lookup

Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-4021 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
4Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-4021Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
mbisPermalink Manager Lite0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-352

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-352 · source CWE mapping

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs