CVE-2019-9646 in Contact Form Email Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Contact Form Email plugin before 1.2.66 for WordPress allows wp-admin/admin.php item XSS, related to cp_admin_int_edition.inc.php in the "custom edition area."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9646 affects the Contact Form Email plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 1.2.66. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that resides within the administrative interface of the plugin, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites that utilize this particular plugin. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a cross-site scripting flaw, which occurs when untrusted data is included in web pages without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw manifests in the cp_admin_int_edition.inc.php file, which handles the custom edition area functionality within the wp-admin/admin.php interface, making it a critical component for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user input within the plugin's administrative area. When administrators access the custom edition section of the plugin, the system fails to adequately sanitize or escape data that originates from user-controlled sources. This allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the administrative interface, which then execute in the context of the authenticated administrator's browser session. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint, which is the primary administrative interface for WordPress, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete administrative compromise of the affected WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS vulnerability could potentially steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content, install malware, or even completely take over the WordPress site. The vulnerability's location within the plugin's administrative interface means that the attacker does not need to have direct access to the WordPress site's files or database, but instead can leverage the administrative session to gain elevated privileges. This makes the attack surface particularly dangerous and the exploitation relatively straightforward for threat actors with basic knowledge of web application security.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-9646 requires immediate action from WordPress site administrators to upgrade the Contact Form Email plugin to version 1.2.66 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output sanitization measures throughout their WordPress installations, following the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be considered a substitute for proper patch management. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of monitoring plugin security advisories and maintaining up-to-date security practices as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies for web application attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes that might be present in the WordPress environment.
The broader implications of this vulnerability demonstrate the critical nature of plugin security in WordPress ecosystems, where third-party components can introduce significant risks to overall system security. This case serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor components within WordPress can create substantial attack vectors when proper security practices are not implemented. The vulnerability also emphasizes the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures, as the exploitation of such vulnerabilities can occur without detection for extended periods, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations should implement security awareness training for administrators and establish regular security assessment procedures to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.