# CVE-2022-3359: Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme < 2.10.7 - PHP Objection Injection

> Attackers can achieve PHP object injection and potential code execution by tricking users into importing malicious files in the Phlox theme plugin.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Dec 2022
- **Updated:** 22 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-j4qq-8fgv-rm6j

## What is CVE-2022-3359?

CVE-2022-3359 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme, published on 12 Dec 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme WordPress plugin before 2.10.7 unserializes the content of an imported file, which could lead to PHP object injection when a user imports (intentionally or not) a malicious file and a suitable gadget chain is present on the blog.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-3359?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Averta Shortcodes and Extra Features for Phlox Theme.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-3359?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-3359 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-3359 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-3359 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme

- [CVE-2023-37888](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37888/): WordPress Phlox Core Elements plugin <= 2.14.0 - Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion vulnerability (high 7.6)
- [CVE-2023-7064](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7064/): Deserialization in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-50368](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-50368/): WordPress Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme Plugin <= 2.15.2 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-12588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12588/): Cross-site scripting in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2024-9545](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9545/): Cross-site scripting in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme (medium 6.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-3359 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-3359 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme, published on 12 Dec 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-3359 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme. 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-2022-3359/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3359/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-3359
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-3359
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-3359

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3359/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.