CVE-2024-1776 in Admin Side Data Storage for Contact Form 7 Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/23/2024
The Admin side data storage for Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the 'form-id' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.1 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1776 affects the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting the administrative data storage functionality. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of database operations within the plugin's administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests through insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into SQL queries. The affected version range includes all releases up to and including 1.1.1, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple plugin iterations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative backend where privileged users have elevated system access, creating a direct pathway for attackers to exploit database security controls.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the 'form-id' parameter within the administrative interface. When administrators interact with the plugin's backend functionality, the system fails to properly sanitize or prepare the user-supplied form-id value before executing database queries. This omission creates a condition where maliciously crafted input can alter the intended SQL query structure, allowing attackers to inject additional SQL commands. The vulnerability specifically resides in the lack of proper parameterization and escaping mechanisms within the existing SQL query construction process. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89 SQL Injection vulnerability, which is categorized under the broader category of injection flaws that occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as authenticated attackers with administrator-level privileges can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database. This includes but is not limited to user credentials, personal information, plugin configurations, and potentially other sensitive data stored within the database. The attack vector requires minimal privilege escalation since the vulnerability specifically targets authenticated administrators, making it particularly concerning for environments where administrative accounts are frequently targeted. The implications of such access include potential data breaches, unauthorized modifications to contact form configurations, and possible lateral movement within the compromised WordPress environment. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it exploits legitimate administrative access to perform unauthorized database operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability through comprehensive patch management strategies. The most effective solution involves upgrading to the latest version of the Contact Form 7 plugin where this vulnerability has been resolved through proper input sanitization and SQL query preparation. Security teams should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as database query monitoring, access logging, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and parameterized queries in preventing injection attacks, reinforcing industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and custom applications that may be susceptible to similar injection vulnerabilities.