CVE-2025-9018
📋 TL;DR
The Time Tracker WordPress plugin has a missing capability check vulnerability that allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify critical WordPress settings and delete database records. Attackers can register themselves as Administrators and potentially take full control of affected WordPress sites. All WordPress sites using Time Tracker plugin versions up to 3.1.0 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Time Tracker plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete site takeover where attackers gain administrative privileges, modify all content, install malicious plugins/themes, steal sensitive data, and maintain persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers elevate privileges to Administrator, modify site settings, inject malicious content, and potentially compromise other sites on shared hosting.
If Mitigated
Limited data deletion and unauthorized settings changes, but full site compromise prevented by additional security controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is trivial once authenticated. Public proof-of-concept code is available in the references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.1.1
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3359157/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Time Tracker' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version 3.1.1 or later from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Time Tracker Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched version can be installed
wp plugin deactivate time-tracker
Restrict User Registration
allDisable user registration to prevent attackers from creating accounts
wp option update users_can_register 0
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove Subscriber and Contributor roles from all users, only keep trusted Administrator and Editor roles
- Implement web application firewall rules to block requests to tt_update_table_function and tt_delete_record_function endpoints
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Time Tracker → Version. If version is 3.1.0 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get time-tracker --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify Time Tracker plugin version is 3.1.1 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=tt_update_table_function or action=tt_delete_record_function
- Unusual user role changes from Subscriber to Administrator
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful Subscriber login
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests containing 'tt_update_table_function' or 'tt_delete_record_function' parameters
- Unusual traffic patterns to WordPress admin-ajax.php from non-admin users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND (action="tt_update_table_function" OR action="tt_delete_record_function") AND user_role="subscriber"🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/time-tracker/trunk/inc/function-tt-delete-record.php#L22
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/time-tracker/trunk/inc/function-tt-update-table.php#L25
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3359157/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2e840f76-1b46-452e-bd63-507cbab779b9?source=cve
