WordPress 123ContactForm Plugin Directory Listing Scanner

The WordPress 123ContactForm Plugin is a widely used tool for creating contact forms on WordPress sites. It is utilized by website administrators seeking an easy way to integrate forms into their pages without extensive coding knowledge. The plugin is popular among small to medium-sized businesses for handling customer inquiries, feedback, and other interactions that need a structured form submission. Due to its convenience and user-friendly interface, it is often the go-to choice for web admins needing simple and efficient form solutions. Typically, it is incorporated into websites where visitor interaction tracking is essential, allowing for better engagement and follow-ups. Despite its popularity, careful configuration is required to ensure security and privacy due to its handling of potentially sensitive data.

Directory listing vulnerabilities occur when users can access lists of directory contents on websites due to default or misconfigured settings. This vulnerability in the WordPress 123ContactForm Plugin can expose sensitive directory structures and file listings, leading to potential information leakage. Attackers can exploit this by scanning exposed directories for files that might contain sensitive data or configuration settings. Such vulnerabilities often arise when proper access controls are not implemented, leaving directory contents accessible by unauthorized users. It affects the confidentiality of a website as unauthorized individuals gain insight into the website's structure and potentially sensitive files. The vulnerability may arise when server settings allow directory indexing, showing the entire contents to anyone with access to that URL path.

Technical details of this vulnerability involve the plugin's directory path being accessible through HTTP requests. The vulnerability resides in the exposed path "/wp-content/plugins/123contactform-for-wordpress/," which, if improperly configured, allows HTTP GET requests to list directory contents. Key indicators of this vulnerability include indexing response with words like "Index of" and the plugin's specific directory path. The status of responses returning a code 200 reinforces successful exploitation. Access control misconfigurations or failures to properly set directory permissions can lead to this exposure, aside from default directory listing settings mistakenly left enabled. Mitigation requires revisiting server configurations, particularly the disabling of directory listing options or ensuring that directories are not served without proper authentication.

Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to several potential risks. An attacker gaining directory access might identify and extract sensitive files or configuration data. Such information could facilitate further exploitation, such as introducing malware or executing further attacks against the site's backend. Directory listings could expose log files, outdated scripts, or leftover backup files, leading to broader security compromises. If sensitive customer information or private keys are accidentally made visible through these directories, the resulting data breach could lead to privacy law violations or financial loss. Ensuring these directories are not exposed prevents unauthorized users from gathering intelligence on the site's structure or launching more targeted attacks.

REFERENCES

• https://blog.sucuri.net/2021/01/critical-vulnerabilities-in-123contactform-for-wordpress-wordpress-plugin.html
• https://www.exploit-db.com/ghdb/6979