CVE-2023-41588 in Time to SLA Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/14/2023
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Time to SLA plugin v10.13.5 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the durationFormat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2026
The CVE-2023-41588 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Time to SLA plugin version 10.13.5, which operates within web applications that utilize this specific plugin for service level agreement tracking and monitoring. This vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's parameter handling system. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes user-supplied data through the durationFormat parameter, which is typically used to format time durations in service level agreements. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that contain executable JavaScript code or HTML elements, which then get processed and rendered within the web application's user interface without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the durationFormat parameter, which serves as an entry point for injecting malicious content into the application's response. When the plugin receives a crafted payload through this parameter, it fails to properly encode or validate the input before incorporating it into the HTML response sent to the victim's browser. This oversight creates a persistent cross-site scripting vector where attacker-controlled code can execute within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant since the malicious payload can be persisted and executed against multiple users who view the affected content.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-41588 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against users of the Time to SLA plugin. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate the plugin's functionality to display false information about service level agreements. The vulnerability's severity is heightened because it affects a monitoring and reporting plugin that likely operates with elevated privileges within the application environment, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive service level agreement data or manipulate critical performance metrics. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where such plugins are used for business-critical service monitoring, as the compromise could lead to operational disruption or data integrity violations that impact business continuity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-41588 should prioritize immediate patching of the Time to SLA plugin to version 10.13.6 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures at the application level, including the use of strict HTML escaping for all user-supplied data before rendering in web interfaces. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the plugin operates with minimal required permissions and that user inputs are validated against strict whitelists of acceptable characters and formats. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous parameter usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or application components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in all user-facing application parameters. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, emphasizing the need for both preventive measures and detection capabilities to address the full spectrum of potential exploitation vectors.