CVE-2022-38971 in ThemeKraft Post Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2023
Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ThemeKraft Post Form – Registration Form – Profile Form for User Profiles and Content Forms for User Submissions plugin <= 2.7.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2023
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38971 affects the ThemeKraft Post Form plugin, specifically versions 2.7.5 and earlier, which provides registration forms, profile forms, and content submission capabilities for user profiles within WordPress environments. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's database, which are then executed whenever legitimate users access affected pages. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's form handling functionality, creating an avenue for persistent malicious code execution that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user-submitted data through the plugin's registration and profile forms is stored in the WordPress database without proper sanitization of potentially malicious input. When administrators or other users view the stored form data, the unfiltered content is rendered directly into web pages, enabling attackers to execute scripts in the context of the victim's browser. This stored XSS variant differs from reflected XSS because the malicious payload persists in the application's database and affects multiple users over time rather than being triggered by a single request. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically manifesting as a stored cross-site scripting attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-38971 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate content, and perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to create admin accounts, modify user profiles, access private content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The persistence of the stored payload means that the vulnerability remains active until the malicious content is removed from the database, potentially affecting all users who view affected form submissions. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators regularly review user submissions and profile information.
Security professionals should immediately update the ThemeKraft Post Form plugin to version 2.7.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures, including the use of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding for all user-generated content. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security audits of third-party plugins, and establishing strict input sanitization policies for all form processing components. The affected plugin versions should be removed from production environments until proper security updates are applied, and administrators should monitor for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.