CVE-2024-5808 in WP Ajax Contact Form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
The WP Ajax Contact Form WordPress plugin through 2.2.2 does not have CSRF check in place when deleting emails from the email list, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin perform such action via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
The WP Ajax Contact Form WordPress plugin version 2.2.2 contains a critical security vulnerability classified as a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) flaw that compromises the integrity of administrative functions. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's email management system where the delete functionality lacks proper CSRF protection mechanisms. The absence of anti-CSRF tokens or validation checks means that authenticated administrators can be tricked into performing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by an authenticated admin user, automatically submit deletion requests to the plugin's email list management interface. The vulnerability specifically affects the email deletion process, allowing unauthorized removal of contact form submissions from the administrative interface.
This security flaw falls under the CWE-352 category, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a vulnerability that occurs when a web application fails to validate that requests originate from the intended user. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and authentication integrity, as it allows attackers to perform administrative actions without proper authorization. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it can be used to disrupt communication channels, remove evidence of security incidents, or potentially compromise the confidentiality of contact form submissions. The CSRF attack vector leverages the authenticated session of the administrator, making it particularly dangerous since the attacker does not need to know login credentials or perform any authentication bypass techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5808 can be significant for WordPress administrators and organizations relying on the WP Ajax Contact Form plugin for customer communication management. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can delete valuable contact form data, potentially removing records of customer inquiries, support tickets, or business communications. This deletion capability can be used to cover tracks of malicious activities or to disrupt business operations by removing important communication history. The vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of data within the plugin's email management system, potentially causing operational disruptions for businesses that depend on maintaining complete contact form submission records. The attack requires only that the administrator visits a malicious page, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently browse untrusted websites or receive suspicious emails.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of the WP Ajax Contact Form plugin where the CSRF protection has been properly implemented. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor's security patch as soon as it becomes available, which should introduce proper CSRF token validation for all administrative actions including email deletion. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attack patterns, though the most effective solution remains the patching of the vulnerable plugin. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring administrative user sessions for unusual activities, particularly unexpected email deletion patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and respond to potential CSRF exploitation attempts targeting their WordPress installations. Organizations using the affected plugin should also conduct security audits to identify any other plugins or themes that may be vulnerable to similar CSRF issues, as the presence of multiple vulnerable components increases the overall attack surface.