CVE-2023-0169 in Zoho Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2023
The Zoho Forms WordPress plugin before 3.0.1 does not validate and escape some of its shortcode attributes before outputting them back in a page/post where the shortcode is embed, which could allow users with the contributor role and above to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0169 affects the Zoho Forms WordPress plugin version 3.0.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting (XSS) exploitation. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by users possessing the contributor role or higher privileges. The affected plugin version fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, enabling malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes where user input is directly incorporated into HTML output without appropriate sanitization measures. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious payloads within shortcode parameters that persist in the WordPress database and execute whenever the affected page or post is rendered. The vulnerability specifically targets the contributor role and above, indicating that attackers need minimal privileges to exploit this flaw, which significantly broadens the potential attack surface. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious scripts are saved server-side and executed against all users who view the affected content, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where multiple contributors may access the same pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. The stored XSS vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can compromise user sessions and potentially allow attackers to gain administrative access if they can manipulate content that administrators view. This risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects the plugin's shortcode functionality, which is commonly used throughout WordPress sites, making the attack surface potentially widespread across various content types and page structures. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0169 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.0.1 or later, which contain the necessary sanitization fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including role-based access controls, regular security audits of user contributions, and monitoring of content changes. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks by restricting script execution within the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning of their WordPress installations to detect similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage. The security implications highlight the necessity of robust sanitization practices in all user-input handling components of WordPress plugins, particularly those that generate dynamic content through shortcode mechanisms.