CVE-2023-4666 in Form Maker Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The Form Maker by 10Web WordPress plugin before 1.15.20 does not validate signatures when creating them on the server from user input, allowing unauthenticated users to create arbitrary files and lead to RCE
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2023
The Form Maker by 10Web WordPress plugin vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations through improper input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.15.20 and stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate cryptographic signatures during server-side file creation processes. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's file generation functionality, potentially enabling them to write arbitrary files to the server filesystem. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the plugin's security architecture where user input is not adequately sanitized or verified before being processed into server-side operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a lack of proper signature validation mechanisms within the plugin's server-side processing logic. When users interact with form creation features, the plugin accepts input parameters that should be cryptographically verified before file operations are executed. Without signature validation, attackers can craft malicious input that bypasses normal security checks and triggers unintended file creation behaviors. This flaw directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and CWE-73 which covers improper neutralization of special elements in file paths. The vulnerability's impact is exacerbated by the fact that no authentication is required to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible WordPress environments.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape for affected WordPress installations as it enables remote code execution capabilities without any authentication requirements. Attackers can leverage this flaw to upload malicious files such as web shells or backdoors, potentially gaining full control over the compromised server. The ability to create arbitrary files means that threat actors can establish persistent access points, exfiltrate data, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 which covers server-side include and T1059.007 which addresses command and scripting interpreter for PowerShell and similar execution paths.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on immediate plugin updates to version 1.15.20 or later where the signature validation has been properly implemented. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious file creation patterns, network monitoring for unusual file upload activities, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins. Organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege for WordPress file permissions, ensuring that web servers cannot create files in sensitive directories. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file creation patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potential weaknesses in the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and cryptographic signature verification in preventing privilege escalation attacks.