CVE-2022-50797: Stripe Green Downloads Plugin XSS Flaw

CVE-2022-50797 Overview

CVE-2022-50797 is a persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Stripe Green Downloads WordPress Plugin version 2.03. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts through button label fields within the plugin's settings. When exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking and manipulation of application modules.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute whenever affected pages are loaded, enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users.

Affected Products

• Stripe Green Downloads WordPress Plugin version 2.03
• WordPress installations with the vulnerable plugin enabled

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-01 - CVE CVE-2022-50797 published to NVD
• 2026-02-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-50797

Vulnerability Analysis

This persistent XSS vulnerability (CWE-79) resides in the input handling of button label fields within the Stripe Green Downloads plugin settings. The plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the database and subsequently rendering it on web pages. This improper input validation allows attackers with authenticated access to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that persist within the application and execute each time the affected content is rendered.

The attack requires network access and user interaction (a victim must view the page containing the injected payload). While the vulnerability requires low-level privileges to exploit, the persistent nature of the stored XSS makes it particularly dangerous as the payload remains active until manually removed.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2022-50797 is the absence of proper input sanitization and output encoding in the button label field handling. The plugin directly stores user-provided input without validating or escaping potentially dangerous characters such as <, >, and quotation marks. When this unsanitized data is later rendered in the browser, any embedded JavaScript code executes within the user's session context.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring an authenticated attacker to access the plugin's settings interface. The attacker crafts a malicious payload containing JavaScript code and submits it through the button label input field. Since the plugin stores this payload without sanitization, subsequent visitors to pages displaying the affected button will have the malicious script executed in their browsers.

The attacker can leverage this vulnerability to:

• Steal session cookies and authentication tokens
• Perform actions on behalf of authenticated users
• Redirect users to malicious websites
• Deface website content
• Capture sensitive information entered on affected pages

The vulnerability is exploited by injecting JavaScript code through the button label settings field. The malicious script is stored in the database and executes when the button is rendered on the frontend. For detailed technical information, see the VulnCheck Advisory and Vulnerability Lab #2287.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-50797

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected JavaScript code or <script> tags present in button label database fields
• Suspicious modification timestamps on plugin settings without authorized administrative activity
• Browser console errors or unexpected script execution on pages containing download buttons
• User reports of unusual browser behavior or redirects when interacting with download functionality

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect XSS payloads in POST requests targeting plugin settings endpoints
• Configure database monitoring to alert on suspicious content patterns (script tags, event handlers) in plugin configuration tables
• Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to detect and block inline script execution attempts
• Utilize WordPress security plugins to scan for stored XSS indicators in plugin data

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging for WordPress admin panel and plugin settings pages
• Monitor for anomalous patterns in settings modifications, particularly from unusual IP addresses or during off-hours
• Implement real-time alerting for database modifications to plugin configuration tables
• Review web server logs for suspicious POST requests containing encoded JavaScript patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-50797

Immediate Actions Required

• Review all button label fields in the Stripe Green Downloads plugin settings for malicious content
• Disable the plugin immediately if suspicious content is found or if the plugin is not critical to operations
• Check for updated versions of the plugin that address this vulnerability
• Implement Web Application Firewall rules to block XSS payloads targeting the vulnerable endpoint

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available in the CVE data. Administrators should monitor the Halfdata Stripe Download Resource for updates and security releases. Consider reaching out to the plugin developer directly regarding the vulnerability status and remediation timeline.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to WordPress administrative functions and plugin settings to trusted IP addresses only
• Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers with strict inline script restrictions to limit XSS impact
• Consider using alternative download management plugins that have undergone security audits
• Apply additional input validation at the web server level using ModSecurity or similar WAF solutions

Administrators should implement strict CSP headers and ensure WordPress admin access is limited to authorized personnel with strong authentication:

# Apache .htaccess configuration to restrict admin access
<Files "wp-login.php">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>

# Add CSP headers to mitigate XSS impact
Header set Content-Security-Policy "script-src 'self'; object-src 'none';"