CVE-2022-3881Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Subscriber-level plugin installation via unprotected AJAX action

Published Dec 12, 2022 · Updated Apr 22, 2025

Incorrect authorization in WP Tools before 3.43 allows remote authenticated users to install and activate arbitrary WordPress.org plugins. The wptools_install_plugin AJAX action accepts a caller-controlled plugin slug and performs installation and activation without enforcing authorization or CSRF protection. Subscriber-level access and a browser request in an authenticated session are sufficient, and successful exploitation changes the site's active code.

CVSS severity5.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in WP Tools before 3.43 allows remote authenticated users to install and activate arbitrary WordPress.org plugins. The wptools_install_plugin AJAX action accepts a caller-controlled plugin slug and performs installation and activation without enforcing authorization or CSRF protection. Subscriber-level access and a browser request in an authenticated session are sufficient, and successful exploitation changes the site's active code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3881
Published
Dec 12, 2022
Updated
Apr 22, 2025
Vendor
Bill Minozzi
Product
WP Tools
Classifications
CWE-863, CWE-352, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 12, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.43

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Bill Minozzi · WP Toolsversion=0 <3.43

Published CVSS scores

5.7CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
CWE-352Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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