CVE-2022-50945 Overview
CVE-2022-50945 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability [CWE-79] in the WordPress 3dady real-time web stats plugin version 1.0. The plugin fails to sanitize input submitted through the dady_input_text and dady2_input_text fields in its options panel. Authenticated attackers can inject JavaScript payloads that execute when administrators or users view affected pages.
The issue is tracked under Exploit-DB entry #51021 and has a published proof-of-concept. While the plugin is no longer actively maintained, installations remaining in production environments continue to expose administrators to session theft and account takeover risk.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can store arbitrary JavaScript in plugin configuration fields, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account compromise when payloads execute in the victim's browser.
Affected Products
- WordPress 3dady real-time web stats plugin version 1.0
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active
- Administrator browsers rendering the plugin options panel
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-10 - CVE-2022-50945 published to NVD
- 2026-05-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2022-50945
Vulnerability Analysis
The 3dady real-time web stats plugin exposes two configuration fields, dady_input_text and dady2_input_text, through its WordPress administrative options panel. The plugin writes user-supplied values to the database and later renders them back into HTML pages without applying output encoding or input sanitization.
When an authenticated user with access to the plugin settings submits content containing HTML or JavaScript, the payload is persisted in the WordPress database. The stored content is then served to any user viewing the affected page, causing the browser to execute the injected script in the context of the WordPress origin.
This is a classic stored XSS pattern driven by missing calls to WordPress sanitization helpers such as sanitize_text_field() on input and esc_attr() or esc_html() on output. The vulnerability requires authentication and user interaction to view the rendered page.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation [CWE-79]. The plugin trusts the values written to dady_input_text and dady2_input_text without filtering script-bearing characters such as <, >, and quote delimiters before rendering them into the page DOM.
Attack Vector
An attacker with authenticated access to the plugin options panel navigates to the settings page and submits a JavaScript payload in either of the vulnerable input fields. The payload is stored in the WordPress options table. When an administrator or other authorized user later loads a page that renders these values, the injected script executes with the privileges of that user, enabling cookie theft, forced administrative actions, or redirection to attacker-controlled hosts.
Verified exploitation details and a proof-of-concept payload are documented in the Exploit-DB #51021 entry and the VulnCheck advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2022-50945
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, onerror, or onload content stored in the wp_options table values associated with the 3dady plugin
- HTTP POST requests to wp-admin/options-general.php or the plugin settings endpoint containing encoded JavaScript in dady_input_text or dady2_input_text parameters
- Outbound browser requests from administrator sessions to unrecognized domains shortly after viewing plugin-affected pages
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created without an audit trail
Detection Strategies
- Inspect the wp_options table for entries written by the 3dady plugin and search for HTML or JavaScript artifacts in stored values
- Review WordPress access logs for POST submissions targeting the plugin options handler that contain angle brackets or javascript: patterns
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that flags script-bearing payloads submitted to plugin configuration endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress activity logging to capture changes to plugin settings and administrator session events
- Monitor browser-initiated requests originating from /wp-admin/ pages for anomalous third-party destinations
- Alert on creation of new administrator-level accounts or modification of user roles following plugin configuration changes
How to Mitigate CVE-2022-50945
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the 3dady real-time web stats plugin from all WordPress installations until a patched version is confirmed available
- Audit the wp_options table and remove any stored JavaScript payloads in dady_input_text and dady2_input_text fields
- Force password resets and session invalidation for WordPress administrators who may have viewed affected pages
- Restrict plugin settings access to a minimal set of trusted administrative accounts
Patch Information
No vendor patch is documented in the available references. The plugin author profile is listed at WordPress.org, and the advisory record is maintained by VulnCheck. Administrators should replace the plugin with an actively maintained alternative.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin entirely and substitute a maintained analytics solution that applies proper input sanitization
- Deploy a web application firewall ruleset that blocks HTML and JavaScript metacharacters in plugin configuration parameters
- Apply the principle of least privilege so only the minimum required users hold the manage_options capability
- Enforce Content Security Policy (CSP) headers that restrict inline script execution on WordPress administrative pages
# Example CSP header to restrict inline script execution on wp-admin
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
