CVE-2024-6517 Scanner

The Contact Form 7 Math Captcha plugin is utilized in WordPress websites to provide an additional layer of spam protection through CAPTCHA verification. Website administrators and developers employ this plugin to ensure that only human users interact with their contact forms, preventing automated spam submissions. It's widely used by WordPress users for its simplicity and effectiveness in filtering spam across various forms. This plugin is part of a larger suite of tools available for WordPress that enhance site security and user management. Organizations and individuals relying on WordPress for their website infrastructure might utilize this plugin as part of their broader security strategy. It helps maintain interactivity on websites while ensuring unwanted submissions are kept to a minimum.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a common vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into webpages that are viewed by other users. In this context, the vulnerability arises because the Contact Form 7 Math Captcha plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user input before displaying it back on the website. This vulnerability can be exploited to perform actions on behalf of users with higher privileges if they unknowingly execute the malicious script by visiting a compromised page. XSS vulnerabilities are critical as they can lead to data theft, session hijacking, and more critical security breaches. By taking advantage of the plugin's flaw, attackers can manipulate website content and steal sensitive information. XSS attacks are often used as part of larger, more sophisticated attack vectors aimed at compromising a website's security.

In detail, the vulnerability specifically occurs when a parameter in Contact Form 7 Math Captcha plugin's admin-ajax functionality is handled improperly. The vulnerable parameter does not get sanitized and escaped correctly which opens up an attack vector for reflected XSS attacks. The endpoint exhibiting this flaw is the admin-ajax PHP script within the plugin when processing CAPTCHA refresh actions. The parameter 'tagname' is particularly susceptible when crafted with JavaScript code like "<script>alert(document.domain)</script>". If exploited, this flaw allows an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript which will be executed in the context of users viewing the compromised webpage. The use of reflected input directly from the HTTP POST request without sanitation is the core issue leading to this vulnerability.

The potential impacts of this vulnerability are significant. If successfully exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the vulnerable web application and its users. This can lead to several adverse outcomes, including the theft of sensitive session tokens, the manipulation of web pages, or the initiation of unauthorized actions on behalf of users. For instance, malicious actions could be disguised as legitimate usage, causing data corruption or theft. Additionally, exploitation could result in phishing attacks where users are redirected to fake pages that mimic trusted ones, potentially compromising login credentials and personal information. As such, the exploitation of this vulnerability could serve as a springboard for more targeted and damaging attacks.

REFERENCES

• https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/d04bab9c-7cb4-4d21-b70b-a4a7fabc3c20/
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-6517