Ninja Tables Arbitrary File Read Scanner

Ninja Tables is a popular plugin used with WordPress to create responsive and customizable tables for website content. It is widely employed by web developers, bloggers, and businesses to organize data in a user-friendly manner. The plugin is known for its ability to handle large volumes of data efficiently and provide extensive styling options. It enhances website performance by enabling easy integration of complex tables without coding knowledge. Ninja Tables helps to manage and display data in a way that enriches user experience and improves content presentation. Its features are continuously updated, making it a favored choice among WordPress users.

The vulnerability detected in Ninja Tables versions before 4.1.9 pertains to arbitrary file reading. This security flaw arises due to the lack of proper validation of user-supplied input in the URL parameter within the plugin's AJAX actions. An attacker can exploit this oversight to read sensitive files from the server without authentication. It particularly poses a risk of unauthorized access to critical information like database configurations and user data. Such vulnerabilities, if left unaddressed, can lead to severe data breaches and compromise the site's security integrity.

The technical details of the vulnerability involve the improper handling of the 'url' parameter in the AJAX action used by the plugin. This allows unauthorized users to craft specific requests that result in downloading files from the server to which they shouldn't have access. The attack involves sending a request to the 'admin-ajax.php' file in WordPress with a specific action query for file download. Accompanied by the improper nonce validation, it leads to potential data exposure. The vulnerable endpoint allows the execution of these actions due to the flaws in the plugin version's security checks.

If exploited, this vulnerability can allow attackers to gain access to any file that the web server can read, including those outside the intended web directory. Such access may reveal sensitive information like server configurations, credential stores, and personal user data. The exposure could lead to unauthorized access, information disclosure, and further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the system. It poses potential threats to the website's confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

REFERENCES

• https://xbow.com/blog/xbow-ninja-tables/
• https://ninjatables.com/docs/change-log/#521-date-july-9-2025