CVE-2022-2843 in Timetable and Event Schedule
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2022
A vulnerability was found in MotoPress Timetable and Event Schedule. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php of the component Quick Edit. The manipulation of the argument post_title with the input leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be launched remotely. VDB-206486 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2022
This vulnerability exists within the MotoPress Timetable and Event Schedule WordPress plugin, specifically targeting the admin-ajax.php endpoint which handles asynchronous AJAX requests in WordPress environments. The flaw resides in the Quick Edit functionality where the post_title parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to users. This cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79) allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, making it a significant security concern for WordPress installations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through the WordPress admin interface, which typically requires authentication, but the XSS payload can be executed in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-supplied data flows directly into the HTML output without proper sanitization. When an attacker manipulates the post_title argument through the Quick Edit functionality in admin-ajax.php, the malicious input is rendered back to users without adequate escaping or encoding. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector is remote since the vulnerability exists in the WordPress admin interface that can be accessed over the network without requiring physical access to the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be exploited to compromise entire WordPress installations when administrators interact with maliciously crafted timetable entries. Attackers can craft payloads that steal admin cookies, inject malicious code into the admin interface, or redirect administrators to phishing sites designed to capture credentials. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations that use the MotoPress plugin, potentially exposing thousands of sites to attack. Given that WordPress admin interfaces are typically protected by authentication, successful exploitation can provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate plugin updates from the vendor to address the sanitization issue in the Quick Edit functionality. System administrators should implement input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious data from being rendered as executable code. The WordPress security community recommends implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of their WordPress plugins, particularly those with administrative interfaces, and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious AJAX requests. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper parameter validation in WordPress plugin development and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual activity patterns in their WordPress admin interfaces, particularly around Quick Edit operations.