CVE-2014-7139 in Contact Form DB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Contact Form DB (aka CFDB and contact-form-7-to-database-extension) plugin before 2.8.16 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) form or (2) enc parameter in the CF7DBPluginShortCodeBuilder page to wp-admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The CVE-2014-7139 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Contact Form DB plugin for WordPress, which was widely used for managing contact form submissions in web applications. This vulnerability existed in versions prior to 2.8.16 and specifically targeted the CF7DBPluginShortCodeBuilder component within the wp-admin/admin.php page. The flaw allowed remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser by exploiting input validation weaknesses in two distinct parameter fields. The vulnerability's impact was significant as it could be exploited by attackers without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress sites that relied on the plugin for contact form management and data collection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding within the plugin's administrative interface. Attackers could manipulate the form parameter or enc parameter through the CF7DBPluginShortCodeBuilder page to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. When legitimate users accessed the affected administrative pages, the malicious code would execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without adequate validation or encoding. The attack vector leverages the plugin's administrative functionality, making it particularly concerning for WordPress administrators who might unknowingly execute malicious code through legitimate administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple script injection, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access to affected WordPress installations. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability could allow attackers to steal administrator session cookies, modify plugin configurations, or even inject additional malicious code into the WordPress environment. The vulnerability's location within the wp-admin directory made it particularly dangerous, as it provided attackers with access to sensitive administrative functions. This type of vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems. The widespread adoption of the Contact Form DB plugin meant that many WordPress sites were potentially exposed to this attack vector, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on contact form functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7139 primarily focused on immediate plugin updates to version 2.8.16 or later, which contained proper input validation and output encoding fixes. System administrators should have implemented additional security measures including regular plugin updates, monitoring of administrative interfaces for suspicious activity, and implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper input validation in web applications and demonstrated how seemingly benign administrative features could become attack vectors when inadequate sanitization measures were implemented. Organizations should have also considered implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code components. This incident underscored the critical need for developers to follow secure coding practices and for administrators to maintain updated security configurations across their WordPress environments.