CVE-2014-3841 in Contact Bank
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Contact Bank plugin before 2.0.20 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Label field, related to form layout configuration. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The CVE-2014-3841 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Contact Bank plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 2.0.20. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The vulnerability specifically targets the form layout configuration functionality of the plugin, where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML code through the Label field, which serves as an entry point for executing arbitrary web scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the Contact Bank plugin processes form configuration data without adequate input validation or output encoding. When administrators or users view forms that contain maliciously crafted Label field values, the unescaped HTML or script content gets executed in the browser context of other users who access these forms. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can affect multiple users depending on the plugin's configuration and usage patterns. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that WordPress plugins often have elevated privileges and can interact with sensitive user data, making this attack surface particularly dangerous. The flaw demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms when rendering user-supplied content within web applications.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress sites utilizing the Contact Bank plugin, particularly those with multiple administrators or users who may be exposed to malicious form configurations. The attack can result in unauthorized data access, session hijacking, and potential complete compromise of user accounts if the affected site has administrative privileges. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the XSS to execute malicious scripts that may establish further attack vectors. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, the malicious code can continue to affect users until the plugin is updated or the malicious input is removed from the database. Organizations relying on WordPress plugins for contact management and form handling should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3841 should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 2.0.20 or later, which contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper content security policies to limit script execution within their web applications. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include verification of input sanitization practices and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining updated security practices and the importance of following secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Given the prevalence of XSS vulnerabilities in web applications, this case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing such attacks. The remediation process should also include database cleanup to remove any previously injected malicious content and verification that all affected forms have been properly sanitized.