CVE-2017-17780 in Clockwork SM
Summary
by MITRE
The Clockwork SMS clockwork-test-message.php component has XSS via a crafted "to" parameter in a clockwork-test-message request to wp-admin/admin.php. This component code is found in the following WordPress plugins: Clockwork Free and Paid SMS Notifications 2.0.3, Two-Factor Authentication - Clockwork SMS 1.0.2, Booking Calendar - Clockwork SMS 1.0.5, Contact Form 7 - Clockwork SMS 2.3.0, Fast Secure Contact Form - Clockwork SMS 2.1.2, Formidable - Clockwork SMS 1.0.2, Gravity Forms - Clockwork SMS 2.2, and WP e-Commerce - Clockwork SMS 2.0.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17780 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Clockwork SMS plugin ecosystem for WordPress platforms. This security weakness resides in the clockwork-test-message.php component which processes user input through the "to" parameter within requests directed to wp-admin/admin.php. The vulnerability affects multiple plugins including Clockwork Free and Paid SMS Notifications, Two-Factor Authentication - Clockwork SMS, Booking Calendar - Clockwork SMS, and several contact form integrations, indicating a widespread impact across various WordPress plugin categories that utilize Clockwork SMS functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code within the "to" parameter of the clockwork-test-message request. When the vulnerable WordPress admin interface processes this parameter without proper sanitization or output encoding, the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's browser session. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing authentication cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary JavaScript code against authenticated administrators who view the affected page. The vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through browser-based attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators using any of the affected plugins, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the administrative interface. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to the WordPress installation, potentially leading to data exfiltration, defacement, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability affects not just individual plugins but an entire ecosystem of interconnected WordPress solutions, making it particularly dangerous as administrators may not be aware of all the plugins that could be exploited through this single vector. The attack requires minimal privileges as it targets the admin interface where legitimate users already possess elevated permissions, making the potential damage much greater than typical user-level vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of all affected WordPress plugins to version 2.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Administrators should also implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied data within the WordPress admin interface and consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious activity in admin sessions and implementing multi-factor authentication can provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation across all user-facing interfaces within WordPress plugins and highlights the need for consistent security practices throughout plugin development lifecycle, particularly in components that handle user data within administrative contexts. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits of their WordPress plugin ecosystem to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.