CVE-2024-37117 in Uncanny Automator Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Uncanny Owl Uncanny Automator Pro allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Uncanny Automator Pro: from n/a through 5.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the Uncanny Automator Pro plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions from an unspecified starting point through version 5.3. The flaw resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within the context of victim browsers. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads are typically delivered via crafted URLs or HTTP parameters that are immediately reflected back to users, making exploitation straightforward and potentially widespread. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application vulnerabilities according to the CWE standard. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites, all while appearing to originate from legitimate sources within the affected WordPress installation.
The technical exploitation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered in web page content. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users with sufficient privileges, will execute within the browser context of the target user. This creates a significant risk for administrators and users who may inadvertently click on malicious links, particularly in environments where the plugin is used for automation tasks involving user interactions or content generation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Uncanny Automator Pro is designed for workflow automation, meaning it likely handles user input in various contexts where the absence of proper input validation creates multiple potential attack vectors. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script code is not stored on the server but is instead reflected from the web application back to the user, making it particularly challenging to detect through traditional security scanning methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate the behavior of the WordPress admin interface, potentially altering user permissions, modifying content, or exfiltrating sensitive data. The vulnerability affects users with varying privilege levels, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive automation workflows. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1566 technique for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and potentially T1059 for command and control through script injection. The plugin's role in automating complex workflows means that successful exploitation could lead to widespread disruption of business processes or unauthorized automation of malicious actions. Organizations using this plugin should immediately assess their exposure and implement protective measures.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 5.3 or later, which presumably contains the necessary security fixes. In the interim, administrators should implement input validation and output encoding measures at the web application level, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block known XSS patterns in HTTP requests. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the need for comprehensive security awareness training for users who interact with automation tools, as social engineering remains a primary attack vector for exploiting such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management controls to limit the impact of potential compromise through this type of vulnerability.