CVE-2023-41863 in PeproDev CF7 Database Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2023
Unauth. Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Pepro Dev. Group PeproDev CF7 Database plugin <= 1.7.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2023
The CVE-2023-41863 vulnerability represents a critical unauthenticated stored cross-site scripting flaw within the PeproDev CF7 Database plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 1.7.0. This vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user input within the contact form 7 database functionality, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by unauthorized attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw specifically manifests when the plugin processes and stores data from contact form submissions, failing to properly sanitize or escape user-provided content before rendering it on administrative interfaces or public-facing pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the plugin's database storage and retrieval mechanisms. When contact form data is submitted through the WordPress contact form 7 plugin, the PeproDev CF7 Database plugin captures this information and stores it in the WordPress database. However, the plugin does not adequately sanitize the stored data before displaying it in administrative dashboards or rendering it on frontend pages. This oversight allows malicious actors to inject malicious javascript payloads that persist in the database and execute whenever the vulnerable data is rendered, creating a stored XSS attack vector that can be triggered by any user who views the affected content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary javascript code in the context of authenticated admin sessions or user browsers. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges, steal cookies, perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress admin interface, or redirect users to malicious domains. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the plugin's database management functionality, which typically requires administrative access to view, making it more likely that attackers could leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges. This aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and the ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique for initial access through web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-41863 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions 1.7.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the stored XSS vulnerability. Administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized plugin modifications, and implementing content security policies to limit the impact of potential XSS attacks. The WordPress security team recommends that users immediately update their installations and consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress environments to identify any other potentially vulnerable plugins or themes that may be susceptible to similar stored XSS vulnerabilities, as the attack surface extends beyond this single plugin to include other components that may process user input without proper sanitization.