CVE-2023-23796 in Form Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File vulnerability in Muneeb Form Builder | Create Responsive Contact Forms.This issue affects Form Builder | Create Responsive Contact Forms: from n/a through 1.9.9.0.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The CVE-2023-23796 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Muneeb Form Builder plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions through 1.9.9.0. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper neutralization of formula elements in CSV files, which constitutes a significant weakness in how the plugin handles data export operations. The issue arises when users export form submissions to CSV format, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or perform unauthorized actions within the affected system.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin generates CSV files containing user-submitted data without properly sanitizing or escaping formula elements that might be present in the input fields. In CSV files, certain characters such as equals sign, plus, minus, and at symbols can trigger formula execution when opened in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. When a malicious user submits data containing these special characters in their form responses, and that data is subsequently exported to CSV format, the spreadsheet application may interpret the content as executable formulas rather than plain text. This behavior creates a potential for remote code execution or data manipulation through maliciously crafted form submissions that exploit the CSV formula injection vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to execute malicious commands on systems where the exported CSV files are opened, particularly in enterprise environments where spreadsheet applications are routinely used for data analysis. The vulnerability affects the plugin's export functionality, meaning that any user who has access to view or download form submissions could inadvertently trigger the exploit when opening exported files. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users might access and open exported data files without proper security awareness.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-1236, which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of formula elements in spreadsheet files, and relates to the broader category of command injection attacks. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique involving execution through a spreadsheet application, potentially falling under the execution category where adversaries leverage application weaknesses to execute malicious code. Organizations using this plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the plugin, implementing proper input validation for form fields, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted CSV files. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network-level restrictions on CSV file downloads and ensure that spreadsheet applications are configured to prevent automatic formula execution when opening files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper data sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of export functionalities in content management systems and form builder plugins.