CVE-2022-3574 in WPForms Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2022
The WPForms Pro WordPress plugin before 1.7.7 does not validate its form data when generating the exported CSV, which could lead to CSV injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
The WPForms Pro WordPress plugin vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3574 represents a critical security flaw in the plugin's data export functionality that affects versions prior to 1.7.7. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the plugin generates CSV export files from form submissions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the lack of proper input validation. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to sanitize user-provided data before incorporating it into the CSV export format, which directly violates fundamental security principles for data handling and output generation.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability can be categorized as a CSV injection attack vector, where maliciously crafted input in form fields can be interpreted by spreadsheet applications as executable commands when the CSV file is opened. This occurs because the plugin does not properly escape or sanitize special characters such as equals signs, plus signs, minus signs, or tab characters that are commonly used in spreadsheet applications to execute formulas or commands. When these characters appear at the beginning of CSV cells, they can trigger unintended execution within spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, allowing attackers to potentially execute malicious code or manipulate data in unintended ways. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1236 which specifically addresses the lack of proper input validation in CSV export functionality and represents a variant of the broader CSV injection vulnerability category.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or manipulation, as it creates a potential attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors to compromise end-user systems. When users open the maliciously crafted CSV files in spreadsheet applications, the injected commands could execute arbitrary code on the victim's system, potentially leading to full system compromise or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects any WordPress site using the WPForms Pro plugin with affected versions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users may access or download exported form data. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no privileged access to the WordPress installation itself, relying instead on social engineering to get users to open the malicious CSV file, which aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and execution phases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 1.7.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper data validation and sanitization. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting CSV export functionality to trusted users only, implementing content security policies for file downloads, and educating users about the risks of opening CSV files from untrusted sources. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify all instances of the vulnerable plugin and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output sanitization in web applications, particularly when dealing with user-generated content that will be consumed by other applications, reinforcing the principles outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security standards that emphasize the need for proper data validation at all input and output points within applications.