CVE-2025-23862 in Contact Form 7 Anti Spambot Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in SzMake Contact Form 7 Anti Spambot allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Contact Form 7 Anti Spambot: from n/a through 1.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2025
The CVE-2025-23862 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the SzMake Contact Form 7 Anti Spambot plugin, which operates within the WordPress ecosystem. This security weakness stems from improperly configured access control mechanisms that fail to adequately validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.0.1, indicating a persistent flaw that has remained unaddressed across multiple iterations of the software. The issue manifests when the plugin fails to properly verify whether an authenticated user possesses the necessary privileges to perform administrative tasks, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to configuration settings and data management functions.
This missing authorization vulnerability falls under the CWE-862 category of "Missing Authorization" which is classified as a fundamental access control weakness in software systems. The flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege by allowing users who should not have administrative capabilities to potentially access restricted areas of the plugin's functionality. When an attacker exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the plugin's anti-spambot features to bypass intended access controls, potentially gaining unauthorized access to contact form submissions, configuration data, or other sensitive information managed by the plugin. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it can enable attackers to modify plugin settings, potentially compromising the integrity of the contact form functionality and creating opportunities for further exploitation within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress site administrators who rely on the Contact Form 7 Anti Spambot plugin for protecting their websites from spam submissions. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can manipulate the anti-spambot mechanisms to either disable protection features or gain access to contact form data that should remain restricted. This compromise can lead to increased spam submissions, potential data leakage of sensitive contact information, and in severe cases, could serve as a foothold for broader attacks against the WordPress installation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core security controls designed to protect against spam and automated attacks, effectively undermining the plugin's primary purpose and creating a false sense of security for administrators.
Security mitigations for CVE-2025-23862 should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, as well as comprehensive access control reviews within WordPress installations. Administrators should implement additional security measures including regular monitoring of plugin access logs, verification of user permissions, and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to administrative functions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts with elevated privileges, as attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to privileged functions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls, network segmentation, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of similar access control vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated plugin versions to ensure that the authorization mechanisms function correctly and that no regressions have been introduced in the plugin's core functionality.