CVE-2024-37512 in NEX-Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Basix NEX-Forms – Ultimate Form Builder allows Stored XSS.This issue affects NEX-Forms – Ultimate Form Builder: from n/a through 8.5.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the Basix NEX-Forms – Ultimate Form Builder plugin that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected websites. The flaw manifests as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically allowing stored XSS attacks that persist across user sessions. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including version 8.5.10, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple iterations of the software. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads injected by attackers are permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever legitimate users view the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle user-generated content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in HTML output contexts. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input within form fields or configuration parameters that are then stored in the database and later displayed without proper encoding or sanitization. When other users access pages containing this stored malicious content, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the form builder functionality itself, meaning that even administrators who create forms could unknowingly introduce malicious code that affects all users of the website. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for long-term compromise of web applications using the vulnerable plugin.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass broader security implications for web applications and their users. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal user sessions, modify content, redirect users to phishing sites, or even gain administrative access to the affected websites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack persists even after the initial injection, creating a continuous threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage. The compromise of form builder functionality also represents a significant risk to website integrity and user trust, as malicious actors can inject content that appears legitimate within the context of the website's design and functionality.
Organizations using the Basix NEX-Forms – Ultimate Form Builder plugin should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the latest available version of the plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been patched and remediated. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms at multiple layers of the application stack can provide defense-in-depth protection. Administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of all forms and user inputs to identify any existing malicious payloads that may have been injected prior to patching. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect suspicious patterns of form submissions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of web applications and their plugins should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities that could be exploited in the future, ensuring comprehensive protection against evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape.