CVE-2023-4950 in Interactive Contact Form and Multi Step Form Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The Interactive Contact Form and Multi Step Form Builder WordPress plugin before 3.4 does not sanitise and escape some parameters, which could allow unauthenticated users to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4950 affects the Interactive Contact Form and Multi Step Form Builder WordPress plugin versions prior to 3.4. This issue represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters that are processed without proper validation or sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape parameters that are used in the generation of HTML output. When unauthenticated users submit data through the form builder interface, the plugin processes these inputs without adequate sanitization measures, allowing malicious payloads to be stored or executed within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication, making it accessible to any user who can interact with the vulnerable plugin's functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4950 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers could craft malicious form submissions that, when viewed by other users, would execute scripts in their browsers and potentially compromise their sessions or steal sensitive information. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where the plugin is active, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active until the plugin is updated to version 3.4 or later. The attack surface is broadened by the plugin's widespread usage within the WordPress ecosystem, making it a potentially high-impact vulnerability for numerous websites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to update the affected plugin to version 3.4 or later, which includes proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms for user inputs. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and content security policies that can help prevent the execution of malicious scripts even if the primary vulnerability is not fully patched. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through script injection. Organizations should also consider implementing regular security audits of their WordPress plugins to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.