CVE-2024-54343 in Connect Contact Form 7 to Constant Contact Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Howard Ehrenberg Connect Contact Form 7 to Constant Contact allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Connect Contact Form 7 to Constant Contact: from n/a through 1.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input sanitization during web page generation processes. The issue specifically affects the Connect Contact Form 7 to Constant Contact plugin, where user input intended for form processing is not adequately neutralized before being rendered back to web browsers. This creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary javascript code through carefully crafted input fields that get reflected back to users, making it a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the plugin processes form submissions and subsequently generates web pages that include user-provided data without proper sanitization or encoding. When a user visits a page containing the vulnerable plugin, the malicious payload embedded in the input data executes within the browser context of the victim, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of the victim. This vulnerability operates under the CWE-79 classification for cross-site scripting, which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of input data during web page generation. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script must be injected into the application through a request that is immediately reflected back to the user, typically via URL parameters or form submissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against authenticated users of the affected plugin. Attackers could leverage this flaw to create persistent session hijacking scenarios, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the user's browser context. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.4, indicating that the issue has persisted across multiple iterations without proper remediation. This suggests a fundamental flaw in the input handling mechanisms that should have been addressed in earlier versions, creating a prolonged window of exposure for users. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in environments where users may have elevated privileges or where the plugin is used in conjunction with other security-sensitive applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's data processing pipeline. The recommended approach involves validating and sanitizing all user inputs before they are processed or displayed, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized through proper encoding techniques. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the plugin if a fix is available, and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and output encoding practices. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack.