Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-4697 is a stored cross-site scripting issue in the WordPress ProfilePress plugin through version 4.5.0. It requires administrator-level access, so it is mainly a concern where admin accounts are shared, compromised, or tightly restricted. The issue is limited to multisite environments and installs where unfiltered_html is disabled.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority remediation item. It is not remotely exploitable by anonymous attackers based on the sources, but it can increase impact after admin compromise or in delegated-admin environments. Patch during the next normal WordPress maintenance cycle, sooner for multisite or high-trust portals.
Technical view
ProfilePress insufficiently sanitized and escaped the wp_user_cover_default_image_url parameter, allowing an authenticated Administrator+ user to store scripts that execute when an affected page is viewed. The CVSS 3.1 score is 5.5, with high privileges required, low attack complexity, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites using ProfilePress 4.5.0 or earlier, especially multisite deployments or sites with unfiltered_html disabled. Standard single-site deployments where administrators retain unfiltered HTML capability may not meet the stated affected conditions.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Practical abuse requires administrator-level access first, so the main risk is post-compromise persistence, abuse by delegated admins, or script execution against users visiting affected pages.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are high privileges and deployment-specific impact. The vulnerable parameter is wp_user_cover_default_image_url. Evidence provided supports stored XSS and the affected version ceiling, but does not include proof of active exploitation or a named fixed version.
Mitigation direction
- Identify WordPress sites running ProfilePress 4.5.0 or earlier.
- Update ProfilePress to a non-affected version using vendor or WordPress plugin guidance.
- Review multisite and unfiltered_html settings for affected deployment conditions.
- Restrict administrator access to trusted users with MFA and least privilege.
- Check vendor advisories before applying compensating controls.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed ProfilePress versions across WordPress environments.
- Confirm whether each site is multisite or has unfiltered_html disabled.
- Review plugin changelog or vendor advisory for the fixed release path.
- Inspect administrative audit logs for unexpected ProfilePress setting changes.
- Verify post-update that affected versions are no longer present.
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-79: 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-4697 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
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:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.32.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/3d54f585-0116-4517-84f1-271e89a05539?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=2838522%40wp-user-avatar%2Ftrunk&old=2837217%40wp-user-avatar%2Ftrunk&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=CVE reference
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/3d54f585-0116-4517-84f1-271e89a05539CVE 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 Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.