CVE-2023-2301 in Contact Form Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2023
The Contact Form Builder by vcita plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 4.10.3. This is due to missing nonce validation on the ls_parse_vcita_callback function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to modify the plugin's settings and inject malicious JavaScript via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link. While the Cross-Site Scripting issue was patched in version 4.10.1, the plugin is still technically vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery since a capability check but no nonce check was added in 4.10.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The Contact Form Builder by vcita plugin for WordPress presents a significant security vulnerability classified as CVE-2023-2301, affecting versions up to and including 4.10.3. This vulnerability stems from a critical flaw in the plugin's implementation of security measures within the ls_parse_vcita_callback function, which lacks proper nonce validation. The absence of nonce verification creates a persistent cross-site request forgery attack vector that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's configuration settings. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the plugin's security architecture, as it fails to validate the authenticity of requests originating from the WordPress admin interface.
The technical flaw manifests through the inadequate protection mechanisms in place for the plugin's callback processing function. While the developers addressed a cross-site scripting vulnerability in version 4.10.1, they introduced a capability check in version 4.10.2 without implementing the corresponding nonce validation required to prevent CSRF attacks. This partial remediation leaves the plugin vulnerable to exploitation, as attackers can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative functions, allowing unauthorized modifications to core settings that could potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. This issue aligns with CWE-352, which defines cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as those that permit unauthorized commands from a user that the web application trusts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modifications, as it creates a pathway for attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of the administrator's session. The attack requires social engineering to trick administrators into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites, but once successful, it enables attackers to gain elevated privileges and potentially compromise the entire WordPress environment. This vulnerability represents a critical risk to website owners who rely on the plugin for contact form functionality, as it could lead to complete system compromise. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of the WordPress admin interface, making it particularly dangerous as administrators are often the most privileged users with broad system access. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a systemic issue in the plugin's security implementation rather than a one-time coding error.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected users, including updating to the latest available version of the plugin where the nonce validation has been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as network-level restrictions on administrative access, monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The implementation of proper nonce validation represents a fundamental security best practice that aligns with the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual patterns in plugin-related requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of the vulnerability, administrators should review their user access controls and implement multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. The incident highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing that includes both input validation and authentication mechanisms to prevent such vulnerabilities from reaching production environments.