CVE-2024-7780 in Custom Contact Form Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2024
The Contact Form by Bit Form: Multi Step Form, Calculation Contact Form, Payment Contact Form & Custom Contact Form builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to generic SQL Injection via the id parameter in versions 2.0 to 2.13.9 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 • 08/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7780 affects the Contact Form by Bit Form plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions between 2.0 and 2.13.9. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits a generic SQL injection vulnerability through the id parameter, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and query construction practices. The vulnerability exists within a plugin designed for creating multi-step forms, calculation forms, payment forms, and custom contact forms, making it a potentially high-impact vector for database compromise in WordPress environments. The flaw stems from inadequate escaping of user-supplied parameters and insufficient preparation of existing SQL queries, creating a pathway for malicious SQL commands to be executed within the database context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers who have achieved Administrator-level access or higher to manipulate the SQL query execution flow by appending additional SQL commands to existing queries. This occurs because the plugin fails to properly sanitize the id parameter before incorporating it into database queries, creating an environment where malicious input can alter the intended query structure. The vulnerability specifically leverages the lack of proper parameterization techniques and input sanitization, enabling attackers to construct malicious SQL payloads that can be executed within the database context. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into a query, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1566.001 which involves spearphishing attachments or links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it provides attackers with the capability to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database through unauthorized SQL queries. An attacker with Administrator privileges can leverage this vulnerability to access confidential data including user credentials, personal information, plugin configurations, and potentially other database contents. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by compromised administrator accounts or through privilege escalation techniques. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple data extraction to include possible data modification or deletion, depending on the attacker's objectives and database permissions. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices that are fundamental to secure application development.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7780 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability, as this represents the most effective solution. Organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring for administrator accounts, as the vulnerability requires elevated privileges to exploit. Network segmentation and database access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database query patterns and unauthorized administrative access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper parameterized queries and input validation, which should be implemented as standard practices in all database interactions. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.