CVE-2020-36738 in Cool Timeline Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2023
The Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 2.0.2. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the ctl_save() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to save field icons via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2023
The Cool Timeline plugin for WordPress represents a popular tool for creating chronological visualizations on websites, but version 2.0.2 and earlier contained a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that exposed WordPress installations to unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability specifically affects the ctl_save() function within the plugin's codebase, where proper nonce validation mechanisms were either absent or improperly implemented, creating a significant security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of the plugin's administrative functionality by allowing unauthenticated attackers to manipulate timeline field icons through crafted requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce verification in the plugin's save functionality. Nonces serve as cryptographic tokens that ensure requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions and prevent unauthorized modifications to WordPress data. When the ctl_save() function fails to validate these nonces, it creates an attack surface where malicious actors can construct forged requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as those that permit unauthorized actions performed by users who are authenticated to the target application. The vulnerability's exploitation requires social engineering tactics to trick administrators into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with external content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it allows attackers to modify timeline configurations and potentially introduce malicious content into website visualizations. Attackers could alter field icons, modify timeline structures, or even inject malicious code through the timeline interface, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior credentials or access are required, making the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit weak points in WordPress plugin security. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to broader system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. The attack vector relies heavily on user deception through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for phishing and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper nonce validation, as well as comprehensive security auditing of all installed WordPress plugins. Administrators should verify that the updated plugin version properly implements nonce validation and that all administrative functions require proper authentication tokens before processing modifications. The WordPress security team recommends implementing additional security measures such as two-factor authentication, regular plugin updates, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, while maintaining detailed audit logs to track timeline modifications and identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing during plugin development and underscores the need for continuous security monitoring of third-party WordPress components to prevent similar issues in the future.