CVE-2022-0140 in Visual Form Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
The Visual Form Builder WordPress plugin before 3.0.6 does not perform access control on entry form export, allowing unauthenticated users to see the form entries or export it as a CSV File using the vfb-export endpoint.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0140 affects the Visual Form Builder WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 3.0.6, presenting a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of affected websites. This issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper authentication checks on the vfb-export endpoint, which is designed to handle form entry exports. The flaw allows any unauthenticated user to access sensitive form data through direct URL manipulation or API calls, bypassing the intended authorization mechanisms that should restrict access to form submissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's lack of proper input validation and access control enforcement within the export functionality. The vfb-export endpoint serves as an entry point where form data can be retrieved or exported without requiring user authentication or role verification. This represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, as the system should only permit authorized administrators or users with appropriate permissions to access form submissions. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests targeting the specific endpoint, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical expertise to execute.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information submitted through web forms. This could include personal identification details, contact information, financial data, or other confidential information that users trust the website operator to protect. The ability to export form entries as CSV files amplifies the risk, as the exported data can be easily processed, analyzed, or distributed by malicious actors. Organizations using the affected plugin may face regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized data access and exposure.
Security practitioners should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories. The remediation strategy requires immediate deployment of the plugin update to version 3.0.6 or later, which implements proper authentication checks on the export endpoint. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of their WordPress installations to identify other plugins with similar access control vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing network-level restrictions or additional authentication layers can provide defense-in-depth measures while waiting for the official patch deployment. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other WordPress plugins or custom code implementations.