CVE-2015-9233 in CP Contact Form with PayPal
Summary
by MITRE
The cp-contact-form-with-paypal (aka CP Contact Form with PayPal) plugin before 1.1.6 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS, related to cp_contactformpp.php and cp_contactformpp_admin_int_list.inc.php.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2017
The cp-contact-form-with-paypal plugin for WordPress contains a critical security vulnerability that combines cross-site request forgery with cross-site scripting, creating a dangerous combination that can be exploited by attackers to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems. This vulnerability affects all versions prior to 1.1.6 and specifically targets two key files within the plugin's codebase: cp_contactformpp.php and cp_contactformpp_admin_int_list.inc.php. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of administrative requests and form processing functionality, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress sites that rely on this contact form solution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and protection mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interfaces. When users access the plugin's administrative pages or submit contact forms, the system fails to properly validate the origin of requests or implement adequate anti-CSRF tokens. This allows an attacker to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administration system, enabling them to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it creates a pathway for attackers to not only manipulate the plugin's functionality but also inject malicious JavaScript code that can be executed in the context of the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation or form submission abuse. Attackers can leverage the CSRF component to perform administrative actions such as modifying plugin settings, adding new users, or altering form configurations. The XSS component amplifies this threat by allowing persistent code execution within the victim's browser, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This combination creates a complete attack vector that can lead to full compromise of the WordPress installation, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when administrators have elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects any WordPress site using the affected plugin version, making it a widespread concern across numerous installations.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of this vulnerability by upgrading to version 1.1.6 or later of the cp-contact-form-with-paypal plugin. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352 for cross-site request forgery and CWE-79 for cross-site scripting, representing a classic example of how insecure input handling can create cascading security issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through web application attacks and privilege escalation via compromised administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices, as well as maintaining up-to-date security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security updates for third-party plugins to prevent exploitation by threat actors.