CVE-2017-18490 in contact-form-multi Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The contact-form-multi plugin before 1.2.1 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The contact-form-multi plugin for WordPress prior to version 1.2.1 contains multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that pose significant security risks to affected websites. These vulnerabilities arise from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's contact form processing functionality, creating attack vectors that malicious actors can exploit to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of affected websites. The flaw affects the plugin's handling of user-supplied data in various form fields and administrative interfaces, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely on contact forms for user interaction and data collection.
The technical implementation of these XSS vulnerabilities stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape user input before rendering it in web pages. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper validation mechanisms in the plugin's form handling code, particularly in areas where form data is displayed back to users or processed through server-side scripts. The vulnerability affects multiple components within the plugin including form submission handlers, shortcode processing, and administrative interfaces where user data is rendered without adequate security measures. This creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of logged-in users.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple data theft, as they can enable attackers to establish persistent access to affected WordPress installations. When exploited, these XSS flaws can allow threat actors to execute malicious JavaScript in the context of legitimate users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or the deployment of additional malware. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that contact forms are commonly used on websites where users submit sensitive information, making the exploitation of these vulnerabilities potentially devastating for both website owners and their visitors. The vulnerabilities are especially dangerous in environments where administrators or trusted users interact with the plugin's administrative interfaces, as these sessions may have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 1.2.1 or later, which contain the necessary security patches and input sanitization improvements. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewall rules to block known malicious patterns, regular security scanning of WordPress installations, and monitoring for suspicious activity in contact form submissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and may map to ATT&CK techniques such as T1566 for social engineering and T1071 for application layer protocols. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of all WordPress installations to identify potentially affected plugins and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future.