CVE-2017-20194 in Formidable Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
The Formidable Form Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Data Exposure in versions up to, and including, 2.05.03 via the frm_forms_preview AJAX action. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to export all of the form entries for a given form.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The Formidable Form Builder plugin for WordPress presents a critical sensitive data exposure vulnerability through its frm_forms_preview AJAX action in versions up to and including 2.05.03. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the plugin's functionality to export all form entries associated with a specific form, potentially compromising confidential information submitted through WordPress forms. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient access controls and authentication checks within the AJAX endpoint, creating an avenue for unauthorized data extraction.
This security weakness falls under the CWE-200 category of Information Exposure and represents a significant risk to organizations relying on WordPress forms for data collection. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly access form submission data without requiring valid credentials or administrative privileges. The impact extends beyond simple data leakage as the exported form entries may contain personal information, business data, or other sensitive details that could be exploited for identity theft, financial fraud, or competitive intelligence gathering.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for WordPress administrators and website owners who depend on the Formidable plugin for various data collection purposes including contact forms, surveys, registration systems, and lead generation tools. Attackers can systematically target multiple forms within a WordPress installation to gather comprehensive datasets, potentially compromising user privacy and organizational security. This vulnerability particularly affects businesses that handle sensitive data through WordPress forms, as the exposure occurs without any indication of unauthorized access attempts, making detection difficult.
Organizations should immediately update to versions of the Formidable Form Builder plugin that address this vulnerability, as the flaw affects all versions up to 2.05.03. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their WordPress installations to identify any systems running vulnerable versions of the plugin. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious AJAX requests can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for regular security assessments of third-party WordPress plugins, as these components often represent significant attack surfaces that require continuous monitoring and updating to maintain security postures against evolving threats.