CVE-2014-7240 in Easy Contact Form Solution Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Easy Contact Form Solution plugin before 1.7 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the value parameter in a master_response action to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2019
The CVE-2014-7240 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Easy Contact Form Solution WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 1.7. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user input through the WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoint, specifically targeting the master_response action with the value parameter. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's backend processing. When the master_response action processes the value parameter through wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, the plugin fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This primitive XSS vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages WordPress's legitimate AJAX handling mechanism, making the malicious payload execution appear as legitimate administrative activity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to compromise user sessions, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate the contact form functionality. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed in an administrator's browser, could perform actions such as changing plugin settings, modifying contact form configurations, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user WordPress environments where administrators frequently interact with contact form data, as it provides a vector for privilege escalation attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.008 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7240 primarily involve immediate plugin updates to version 1.7 or later, which contain proper input validation and output sanitization measures. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including filtering user inputs before they are processed by the plugin. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should include verification of input handling practices and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and implementing proper security controls such as Content Security Policy headers to prevent XSS exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect anomalous activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against known vulnerabilities.