# CVE-2022-3357: Smart Slider 3 < 3.5.1.11 - PHP Object Injection

> An attacker can achieve code execution by tricking a user into importing a malicious file containing a PHP object injection payload.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 Oct 2022
- **Updated:** 6 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-whq7-7399-vqph

## What is CVE-2022-3357?

CVE-2022-3357 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown Smart Slider 3, published on 31 Oct 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Smart Slider 3 WordPress plugin before 3.5.1.11 unserialises the content of an imported file, which could lead to PHP object injection issues when a user import (intentionally or not) a malicious file, and a suitable gadget chain is present on the site.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-3357?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Nextendweb Smart Slider 3.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-3357?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-3357 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-3357 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-3357 exists.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/iamz24/CVE-2021-3493_CVE-2022-3357 (github_poc): https://github.com/iamz24/CVE-2021-3493_CVE-2022-3357

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Smart Slider 3

- [CVE-2023-0660](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0660/): Smart Slider 3 < 3.5.1.14 - Contributor+ Stored XSS (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2022-45843](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45843/): WordPress Smart Slider 3 Plugin <= 3.5.1.9 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2022-45845](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45845/): WordPress Smart Slider 3 Plugin <= 3.5.1.9 is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-3357 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-3357 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown Smart Slider 3, published on 31 Oct 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-3357 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Smart Slider 3. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3357/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3357/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-3357
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-3357
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-3357

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3357/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.