CVE-2023-23885 in Quick Contact Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Fullworks Quick Contact Form plugin <= 8.0.3.1 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The CVE-2023-23885 vulnerability represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Fullworks Quick Contact Form WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 8.0.3.1. This security weakness resides in the plugin's authentication requirements, specifically targeting users with contributor level privileges or higher, making it particularly concerning for multi-user WordPress environments where content creators and editors may have elevated permissions. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's form handling functionality, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected content.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability occurs within the plugin's processing of user-submitted form data. When contributors or higher-privileged users create or modify contact form entries, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before storing it in the database. This stored data is subsequently retrieved and rendered without adequate output encoding, creating an environment where malicious JavaScript code can persist and execute whenever legitimate users access the affected pages. The flaw typically manifests when form submissions contain crafted script payloads that are stored in the WordPress database and later displayed in administrative interfaces or public form results.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker with contributor privileges can craft malicious form entries that, when viewed by administrators or other users, can execute scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify content on the affected WordPress installation. This vulnerability particularly threatens WordPress sites where multiple users have contributor access or higher, as it bypasses typical security controls that might otherwise prevent such attacks. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payloads persist even after the initial injection, making the attack vector particularly dangerous and difficult to detect.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Fullworks Quick Contact Form plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all user-generated content, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and may be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Administrators should also implement content security policies and monitor for unusual form submissions that may indicate exploitation attempts. The risk assessment for this vulnerability should consider the privilege level required for exploitation and the potential impact on user sessions and data integrity within the WordPress environment.