Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This affects WordPress sites using Image Hover Effects Ultimate version 9.7.1 or older. An already-authenticated, highly privileged user may be able to change WordPress options through the plugin. That can threaten confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but the source bundle does not show unauthenticated attack or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority WordPress plugin exposure, especially for public or revenue-generating sites. It is not presented as actively exploited, but privileged-account compromise could turn this into a full site-impact event.
Technical view
CVE-2022-42459 is an authenticated WordPress options-change vulnerability in Image Hover Effects Ultimate <= 9.7.1. CVSS 3.1 is 7.2 with network access, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high CIA impact. The listed weakness areas are CWE-264 and CWE-269.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations with Image Hover Effects Ultimate <= 9.7.1 installed. Risk is higher where many administrators or privileged users exist, accounts are shared, or admin access is weakly protected.
Exploitation context
The supplied bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is still material because changing WordPress options can have broad site impact once high-privilege authentication is obtained.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse in the provided bundle: affected product, version range, CVSS, CWE mapping, and two public references are available, but no fixed version, exploit details, or detailed root cause is included. Avoid assuming unauthenticated reachability.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Image Hover Effects Ultimate installations.
- Confirm installed plugin versions and flag <= 9.7.1.
- Check Patchstack and WordPress.org for current vendor remediation guidance.
- Update only to a vendor-supported fixed version if identified.
- Restrict privileged WordPress accounts to trusted users only.
- Disable the plugin if exposure cannot be remediated acceptably.
Validation and detection
- Verify plugin presence and version on each WordPress site.
- Review privileged WordPress user accounts for unnecessary access.
- Check recent WordPress option changes for unexpected modifications.
- Confirm remediation status against Patchstack or the WordPress plugin page.
- Document any sites that cannot be updated or disabled.
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
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-264: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-269: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-42459 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
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.
Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Improper Privilege Management
Improper Privilege Management represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.