CVE-2024-1306 in Smart Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2024
The Smart Forms WordPress plugin before 2.6.94 does not have CSRF checks in some places, which could allow attackers to make logged-in users perform unwanted actions via CSRF attacks, such as editing entries, and we consider it a medium risk.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2025
The Smart Forms WordPress plugin version 2.6.93 and earlier contains a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that exposes WordPress installations to unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within specific administrative endpoints of the plugin. The flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that, when executed by authenticated users, can perform unauthorized operations within the plugin's administrative interface. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's ability to validate the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative sessions, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit user privileges without requiring additional authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the plugin's request validation framework where anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective mechanisms are either completely absent or inadequately implemented. This allows an attacker to construct malicious web pages or email attachments that, when viewed or clicked by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoints. The affected functionality includes administrative operations such as editing form entries, which can result in data manipulation, unauthorized modifications, or potential data exposure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires the target user to be authenticated to the WordPress administration panel, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing user privileges rather than requiring credential theft or other authentication bypass techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification as it can enable attackers to manipulate form submissions, potentially leading to data integrity compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or even serve as a stepping stone for further exploitation within the WordPress environment. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to modify form configurations, delete entries, or manipulate the flow of data processing within the plugin. The medium risk classification reflects the fact that exploitation requires user interaction and authentication, but the potential for data manipulation and unauthorized administrative actions makes it a significant concern for WordPress site administrators. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading of the Smart Forms plugin to version 2.6.94 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been implemented. Administrators should also conduct a thorough review of their WordPress plugin ecosystem to identify other potentially vulnerable components that may lack proper CSRF protections. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns, ensuring that administrators use secure browsing practices, and considering the implementation of additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential exploitation. Regular security audits of WordPress installations should include verification of CSRF protections in all administrative interfaces and plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through third-party components.