CVE-2025-3471 in SureForms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/30/2025
The SureForms WordPress plugin before 1.4.4 does not have proper authorisation check when updating its settings via the REST API, which could allow Contributor and above roles to perform such action
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
The SureForms WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2025-3471 represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress sites utilizing this plugin. This issue affects versions prior to 1.4.4 and specifically targets the plugin's REST API endpoints responsible for settings management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before allowing administrative actions to be executed through the API interface.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing authorization check within the plugin's REST API implementation, where the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to modify plugin settings. This weakness allows users with Contributor role and higher privileges to exploit the API endpoint and alter configuration parameters that should typically be restricted to administrators or editors. The vulnerability specifically affects the settings update functionality, enabling unauthorized modification of critical plugin parameters that control form behavior, data handling, and security configurations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for WordPress installations that rely on the SureForms plugin. A malicious user with Contributor privileges could potentially manipulate form settings to redirect submissions, alter data processing workflows, or compromise the integrity of form data collection processes. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the REST API, which is commonly enabled and frequently used in modern WordPress environments, making the exploitation more likely and easier to execute. This unauthorized access could lead to data integrity issues, potential information disclosure, and disruption of legitimate form processing operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-862, which addresses insufficient authorization checks, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in cybersecurity. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue maps to privilege escalation techniques where attackers exploit weak access controls to gain elevated capabilities within the application. The remediation approach requires immediate patching to version 1.4.4 or later, which should implement proper authorization checks for all REST API endpoints. Organizations should also conduct thorough access control reviews and consider implementing additional monitoring for API activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams must verify that all plugin installations have been updated and that proper user role assignments are maintained to prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper authorization implementation in web applications, particularly those that expose REST APIs. WordPress plugin developers must ensure that all administrative functions include robust access control validation, as the consequences of insufficient authorization checks can extend far beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise. Regular security audits of plugin code and adherence to secure coding practices remain essential defensive measures against such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain visibility into plugin usage across their WordPress environments.