CVE-2017-18600 in formcraft3 Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The formcraft3 plugin before 3.4 for WordPress has stored XSS via the "New Form > Heading > Heading Text" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18600 affects the formcraft3 plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 3.4, and represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that can compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of affected websites. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's form creation functionality, specifically in the "New Form > Heading > Heading Text" field where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the database and subsequently rendered back to users. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever the affected page is loaded, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the formcraft3 plugin's processing pipeline. When administrators or users create forms through the plugin interface, the heading text field accepts arbitrary input without proper sanitization measures. The stored data is then retrieved from the database and displayed in the user interface without appropriate HTML escaping or context-aware output encoding. This failure to implement proper input validation and output sanitization creates a classic stored XSS vector where malicious payloads can be embedded in the heading text field and executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected forms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code persists in the database and can affect any user who accesses pages containing the compromised form elements. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators and regular users may be exposed to the same malicious content. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that the vulnerability affects the plugin's administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges or manipulate form data that could be used to collect sensitive user information.
Security practitioners should address this vulnerability through immediate patching of the formcraft3 plugin to version 3.4 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output sanitization fixes. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including client-side and server-side checks, ensuring that all user-supplied content undergoes strict sanitization before storage, and implementing proper output encoding when rendering content in different contexts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and regular security scanning of WordPress installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213, which covers data from information repositories, as attackers can leverage stored XSS to extract sensitive data from compromised systems, making it a critical concern for enterprise security posture and compliance requirements.