CVE-2025-3704 in Volunteer Sign Up Sheets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/27/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in DBAR Productions Volunteer Sign Up Sheets allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Volunteer Sign Up Sheets: from n/a before 5.5.5.
The patch is available exclusively on GitHub at https://github.com/dbarproductions/pta-volunteer-sign-up-sheets , as the vendor encounters difficulties using SVN to deploy to the WordPress.org repository.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the DBAR Productions Volunteer Sign Up Sheets plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions prior to 5.5.5. The flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where insufficient input sanitization during web page generation creates opportunities for malicious code execution. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because user input submitted through the plugin interface is persistently stored in the database and subsequently rendered in subsequent page views without proper HTML escaping or sanitization mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts into fields that are later displayed to other users, potentially compromising their sessions or redirecting them to malicious sites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the plugin's input handling processes. When users enter content into forms managed by the Volunteer Sign Up Sheets plugin, the application fails to properly neutralize special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to submit payloads containing script tags or other malicious constructs that are then stored in the database and executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer where user-generated content is processed and displayed, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious inputs without proper sanitization controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to phishing sites. When exploited, the stored XSS could allow attackers to steal cookies, modify page content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the plugin for volunteer management, as compromised user sessions could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive volunteer data, scheduling information, or administrative functions. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also the broader community relying on the plugin, potentially exposing multiple systems to coordinated attacks if attackers can identify and exploit this weakness across different installations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to version 5.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary patch to address the input sanitization issues. The patch addresses the vulnerability by implementing proper HTML escaping and input validation mechanisms that neutralize potentially dangerous characters before storing or rendering user-supplied content. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks, though this should not be considered a substitute for proper input sanitization. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious input patterns and regular security audits should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper software deployment practices, as the vendor's difficulty with SVN deployment to WordPress.org repository may have delayed the availability of security updates to users. This situation underscores the need for organizations to maintain awareness of third-party plugin security and consider alternative deployment strategies or vendor evaluation criteria when security patches are delayed or unavailable through standard channels.