CVE-2010-3977 in cforms
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in wp-content/plugins/cforms/lib_ajax.php in cforms WordPress plugin 11.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) rs and (2) rsargs[] parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2025
The CVE-2010-3977 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the cforms WordPress plugin version 11.5, specifically within the wp-content/plugins/cforms/lib_ajax.php file. This vulnerability exposes WordPress installations to significant security risks by allowing remote attackers to execute malicious scripts through manipulated HTTP parameters. The flaw affects the plugin's handling of user input in two distinct parameter fields identified as rs and rsargs[], which are processed during AJAX operations within the plugin's functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the cforms plugin's AJAX processing mechanism. When the plugin processes requests containing the rs and rsargs[] parameters, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This insufficient data handling creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the plugin's AJAX endpoints, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring authentication or administrative privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3977 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise user sessions, particularly if target users have administrative privileges on the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects the broader WordPress ecosystem since cforms is a widely used plugin for creating contact forms and handling user submissions, making the attack surface substantial across numerous websites. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which represents "Cross-site Scripting" and specifically aligns with the CWE-79-253 category for "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation" within the context of AJAX-based applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where malicious payloads are crafted to be submitted through the vulnerable parameters. Attackers typically construct payloads that include JavaScript code to steal cookies, redirect users, or perform actions on behalf of the victim. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it can be delivered through legitimate plugin functionality, making it difficult for administrators to distinguish between normal plugin usage and malicious activity. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to T1566.001 "Phishing with Social Engineering" and T1059.007 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as it enables attackers to deliver malicious JavaScript payloads to victim browsers through the plugin's legitimate AJAX interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3977 require immediate action including upgrading to a patched version of the cforms plugin, implementing proper input validation on the server-side, and applying output encoding to prevent script execution in web contexts. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and implementing robust input sanitization practices throughout the application stack. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual AJAX requests that might indicate exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to quickly restore systems in case of successful compromise.