CVE-2017-18590 Scanner

Scanner is focused on the Timesheet Plugin utilized within WordPress environments, mainly serving administrative and project-management purposes. This plugin is actively used by organizations and individuals for tracking time and managing tasks efficiently. Primarily developed for WordPress, it extends functionalities like logging hours and producing timesheets. It's integrated into WordPress-backed websites, enhancing their ability to manage workload distributions effectively. By exploiting vulnerabilities within these plugins, it's crucial to secure them to protect user data and ensure integrity and availability of the services.

The vulnerability present in the Timesheet Plugin is Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), which poses significant security risks by allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts. An XSS vulnerability permits the execution of attacker-provided scripts within the context of a user's session. This can lead to unauthorized actions within the application, as well as compromise personal and sensitive information. XSS issues remain one of the most common types of vulnerabilities, demanding thorough examination and care to control their impact on web users. Addressing this vulnerability is essential for maintaining trust and protecting data within the WordPress environment.

Technically, the vulnerability is found in the pre-0.1.5 versions of the Timesheet Plugin for WordPress. It can be exploited by injecting scripts through non-sanitized input fields. Here, potential entry points include administrative pages where data inputs are possible without proper validation or filtering. Such uncontrolled inputs can lead to script execution in user sessions viewing or interacting with compromised elements. The plugin's endpoints that accept user data become vectors for this vulnerability, making it essential to sanitize and validate inputs and outputs vigorously.

Exploiting the XSS vulnerability in the Timesheet Plugin can impact the affected environment by allowing unauthorized actions and access. Consequences may include stealing session tokens, executing phishing attacks, or spreading malware. Users interacting with a compromised site could have their personal data harvested, opening avenues for identity theft or unauthorized access. Moreover, this could degrade trust in the platform and impact business operations by affecting data integrity and confidentiality. Vigilance and immediate patching are necessary to prevent these potential security breaches.

REFERENCES

• https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/efd816c3-90d4-40bf-850a-0e4c1a756694/
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-18590
• https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/timesheet