CVE-2017-14530 in Job Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
WP_Admin_UI in the Crony Cronjob Manager plugin before 0.4.7 for WordPress has CSRF via the name parameter in an action=manage&do=create operation, as demonstrated by inserting XSS sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14530 affects the Crony Cronjob Manager plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions prior to 0.4.7. This issue resides within the WP_Admin_UI component and represents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that can be exploited to execute malicious code. The vulnerability manifests through the name parameter in the action=manage&do=create operation, which lacks proper validation and sanitization mechanisms. This flaw allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed in the context of authenticated admin users, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the plugin's administrative interface. When a user navigates to the cron job management section and attempts to create a new cron job, the name parameter is not properly sanitized or validated against malicious input. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the name field, which then gets executed when the admin user interacts with the affected page. The vulnerability specifically leverages the lack of anti-CSRF tokens in the affected operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over the WordPress installation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that will execute whenever the admin user accesses the affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malware. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, as the malicious payload can be triggered through carefully crafted links or embedded within other web content that the admin user might visit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 0.4.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the CSRF and input validation issues. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at the web application firewall level and regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to mitigate the impact of any successful XSS exploitation attempts and establish regular monitoring for unauthorized plugin modifications or installations.