CVE-2023-28781 in Contact Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Unauth. Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cimatti Consulting WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin <= 1.5.4 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-28781 represents an unauthorized stored cross-site scripting flaw within the WordPress Contact Forms by Cimatti plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.5.4. This issue resides in the plugin's handling of user input within contact form submissions, creating a persistent security risk for WordPress sites that utilize this particular plugin. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's storage mechanisms, which then execute whenever legitimate users access the affected pages or admin interfaces. The flaw specifically impacts the plugin's contact form processing functionality where user-provided data is stored without proper sanitization or validation measures.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's backend processing routines. When users submit contact forms through the affected plugin, the submitted data undergoes insufficient sanitization before being stored in the WordPress database or cached within the plugin's internal structures. This stored data can include HTML content, JavaScript code, or other malicious payloads that are later rendered in subsequent page views or administrative interfaces. The vulnerability manifests as a stored XSS because the malicious script is permanently saved and executed each time the affected content is accessed, rather than requiring a single malicious request. This characteristic significantly amplifies the potential impact compared to reflected XSS vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of website content, and potential lateral movement within compromised WordPress environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to affected sites, manipulate contact form data, or redirect users to malicious domains. The vulnerability affects both frontend user interactions and backend administrative interfaces, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation if administrators interact with the compromised contact form data. Organizations running vulnerable versions of this plugin face significant risk of data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Security practitioners should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. The issue also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering attacks and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Mitigation strategies include immediate upgrading to the latest plugin version where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed WordPress plugins. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping all WordPress plugins updated and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring practices to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in third-party components.