Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-4171 affects the WordPress demon image annotation plugin through version 5.0. The plugin does not properly enforce configured annotation length limits, allowing unauthenticated users to submit more text than intended. Business impact is mainly content integrity and site reliability, not data theft.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on public WordPress sites using this plugin. The issue is not critical, but unauthenticated access and availability impact justify timely cleanup in normal patch cycles.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-1284 improper input validation in annotation character-length handling. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction required. Reported impact is low integrity and availability impact, with no confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running demon image annotation versions up to and including 5.0, especially where public annotation submission is enabled or reachable.
Exploitation context
The sources state unauthenticated attackers can bypass annotation length restrictions. CISA KEV status is false in the supplied bundle, and no provided source states active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Do not assume data exposure from the supplied evidence. Focus validation on version, reachability, and whether configured length limits are actually enforced after remediation. Patch details are not fully described in the source bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the demon image annotation plugin.
- Update to a vendor-maintained release newer than 5.0 if available.
- Disable or remove the plugin where annotation functionality is unnecessary.
- Check vendor and WordPress plugin guidance for the confirmed fixed version.
- Monitor public annotation endpoints for abnormal oversized submissions.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed plugin name and version across WordPress assets.
- Treat versions up to and including 5.0 as affected.
- Review annotation settings and whether public submissions are reachable.
- Check logs for unusually large annotation content submissions.
- Verify remediation by confirming the plugin is updated, disabled, or removed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-1284: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-4171 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L3.92.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/ac5549ec-f931-4b13-b5f9-0d6f3e53aae4?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2830349%40demon-image-annotation&new=2830349%40demon-image-annotation&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=CVE reference
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/ac5549ec-f931-4b13-b5f9-0d6f3e53aae4CVE reference · x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input
Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.