CVE-2015-4010 in Encrypted Contact Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Encrypted Contact Form plugin before 1.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the iframe_url parameter in an Update Page action in the conformconf page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2024
The CVE-2015-4010 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Encrypted Contact Form WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.1. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of CSRF and XSS attack vectors, creating a particularly dangerous security exposure for WordPress administrators. The flaw manifests when attackers exploit the iframe_url parameter within the conformconf page, which is accessible through the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction since it can be triggered through administrative actions, making it especially concerning for high-privilege accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's inadequate validation of the iframe_url parameter during the Update Page action. When administrators visit the conformconf page and submit updates, the plugin fails to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or sufficient input sanitization. This omission allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress admin interface, as the authentication context is automatically included with the request. The vulnerability's design flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate administrative sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS exploitation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the context of an administrator's session. This enables unauthorized modifications to the WordPress configuration, potential data exfiltration, and the ability to install malicious plugins or themes. The attack chain begins with the exploitation of the CSRF vulnerability, which then facilitates the execution of XSS payloads through the iframe_url parameter. This dual nature makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be used to establish persistent backdoors or perform privilege escalation attacks against WordPress installations.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a direct violation of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code, and T1548, which involves abuse of administrative privileges through session hijacking. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to plugin version 1.1 or later, implementing proper CSRF token validation, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all installed WordPress plugins. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious requests targeting the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint, and administrators should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites while logged into administrative sessions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions.