CVE-2020-13764 in Gravity Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
common.php in the Gravity Forms plugin before 2.4.9 for WordPress can leak hashed passwords because user_pass is not considered a special case for a $current_user->get($property) call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13764 affects the Gravity Forms plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions prior to 2.4.9. This security flaw resides in the common.php file and represents a critical information disclosure issue that can potentially expose sensitive user credentials. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of user password data within the plugin's codebase, creating a scenario where hashed passwords may be inadvertently exposed through specific API calls.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the plugin makes a $current_user->get($property) call without properly accounting for the user_pass property as a special case. This oversight allows the system to return hashed password values when specific user properties are accessed through the plugin's internal mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects how the plugin handles user authentication data, where the user_pass field should be treated with heightened security considerations due to its sensitive nature. This represents a direct violation of secure coding practices where sensitive data fields require special handling to prevent unauthorized access or exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts within WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the Gravity Forms plugin. When exploited, the vulnerability could allow threat actors to obtain hashed passwords that could then be subjected to offline cracking attempts or used in credential stuffing attacks against other services where users may have reused credentials. The exposure of hashed passwords creates a significant risk for organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence, particularly those handling sensitive user data or operating in regulated environments where data protection compliance is mandatory.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-200, Information Exposure, and potentially related to CWE-522, Insufficiently Protected Credentials. The issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, Phishing, as compromised credentials could facilitate further attacks through social engineering campaigns. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to Gravity Forms version 2.4.9 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to properly handle the user_pass property. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the web application stack.