Contact Form Plugin by Fluent Forms Detection Scanner

The Contact Form Plugin by Fluent Forms is widely used in WordPress environments for creating customizable contact forms, quizzes, surveys, and more. It is favored by website administrators and developers due to its drag-and-drop interface and extensive form-building capabilities. This plugin enhances user interaction and feedback collection on websites. Its features cater to businesses, educators, and anyone needing a flexible form solution. By offering integrations with various services and numerous templates, it supports diverse functional requirements. The plugin is part of the top-200 WordPress plugins, reflecting its popularity and reliability.

Detection-based vulnerabilities occur when systems can identify and recognize specific software or plugins through exposed data or metadata. In this case, the scanner detects the presence of the Fluent Forms plugin by analyzing the readme files or other indicative files. Detection scanners do not exploit vulnerabilities but help in recognizing potential software for administrators. Knowing the software and version helps in assessing the need for updates or security assessments. The scanner's output enhances awareness of digital asset configurations, aiding in maintenance and security policies.

Technically, the detection involves sending HTTP requests to potential endpoints like readme.txt, which may contain version information. The scanner parses responses from the servers to identify the plugin and its version by using regular expressions. The process is non-intrusive as it doesn't alter the server state. The detection relies on regex matching patterns to extract specific version tags from the site's content. Such data extraction helps in cataloging the software used, which is essential for managing updates or addressing vulnerabilities.

Though not implicitly harmful, the detection of plugins like Fluent Forms can lead to targeted exploits if not managed properly. Once a plugin version is known, it might expose the site to known vulnerabilities if updates aren't applied. Attackers could use detection results to execute specific exploits related to the identified software. Thus, managing and securing plugin information is crucial for maintaining website integrity. Ensuring all components are up-to-date minimizes the risk from potential attackers exploiting outdated versions. Detection is the first step towards a robust defense mechanism against opportunistic attacks.

REFERENCES

• https://wordpress.org/plugins/fluentform/
• https://wpscan.com/plugin/fluentform