CVE-2013-7481 in contact-form-plugin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The contact-form-plugin plugin before 3.3.5 for WordPress has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The CVE-2013-7481 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the contact-form-plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 3.3.5. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of user input, specifically in how it processes and displays contact form data without proper sanitization or output encoding. The issue arises from insufficient validation of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into HTML output, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize form field inputs before rendering them in the web interface. When users submit contact form data through the WordPress site, the plugin stores this information and later displays it in various contexts such as admin interfaces, email notifications, or frontend displays. Without adequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms, malicious users can craft payloads containing script tags or other malicious code within form fields that get executed when other users view the data. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how improper input handling can lead to severe security consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could inject JavaScript code that captures user sessions, redirects victims to phishing pages, or even modifies the content of the affected WordPress site. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in WordPress environments where multiple users interact with contact forms, as it could affect both administrators and regular site visitors who view the stored form submissions. This type of vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for more advanced attacks, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 3.3.5 or later, which would contain the necessary input sanitization and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and proper input validation at multiple layers of the application. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting, as it enables malicious code execution through web-based interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and establish regular monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized modifications or suspicious activities related to contact form data handling.