CVE-2023-47871 in Contact Form to Any API Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in IT Path Solutions Contact Form to Any API allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Contact Form to Any API: from n/a through 1.1.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47871 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the IT Path Solutions Contact Form to Any API plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 1.1.6. This security weakness stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels that fail to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized individuals to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and access functionality that should be restricted to authorized users only.
This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, which is a fundamental security principle that governs how systems should verify and enforce access controls for different user roles and privileges. The issue manifests when the API endpoint fails to properly authenticate requests or validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to perform the requested action. The missing authorization check creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the system's access control mechanisms and potentially gain elevated privileges or access to restricted data and functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate the contact form submission process and potentially interfere with business-critical communication flows. An attacker could exploit this weakness to submit malicious data, access confidential information, or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability particularly affects websites that rely on the contact form functionality for customer support, lead generation, or other business-critical processes where unauthorized access could result in data leakage, service disruption, or reputational damage.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability through the lens of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically considering techniques related to privilege escalation and unauthorized access. The vulnerability aligns with the T1078 credential access technique and potentially the T1566 initial access methods that leverage weak access control mechanisms. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the plugin where the authorization checks have been properly implemented, reviewing and hardening access control configurations, and monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include regular security assessments of third-party plugins and APIs, implementing network-level access controls to restrict API endpoints, and establishing comprehensive monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. The fix typically involves implementing proper authentication checks at the API endpoint level, ensuring that all requests are validated against appropriate user credentials and permissions before executing any operations. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and request validation to further reduce the attack surface and prevent abuse of the vulnerable functionality.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for thorough security reviews of all integrated third-party components. This issue demonstrates how seemingly simple access control misconfigurations can create significant security risks that may be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise. Regular security audits, vulnerability scanning, and maintaining current security patches are essential practices that can prevent exploitation of similar authorization flaws in other systems and components.