WordPress Contact Form 7 Full Path Disclosure Scanner

The WordPress Contact Form 7 plugin is a widely used tool by website administrators to create and manage contact forms on WordPress sites. It offers extensive customization options for form fields, mail configurations, and display formats, making it popular among site developers. The plugin integrates with various themes and plugins, enhancing WordPress site functionality without requiring coding skills. Small businesses, online stores, and bloggers primarily use it to facilitate visitor interactions on their websites. Due to its extensive usage, any vulnerabilities in this plugin can have widespread impacts across millions of WordPress sites. Its simple interface and robust functionality continue to make it a favorite choice in the WordPress ecosystem.

The Full Path Disclosure vulnerability in the WordPress Contact Form 7 plugin can expose the server's full file system path. Attackers may leverage this information to gain insights into the file structure and locate sensitive files or directories. This vulnerability often arises when PHP files are directly accessed, revealing error messages that include the server path. Such disclosures can aid in further exploitation, potentially leading to more severe breaches. Although this vulnerability is considered low risk, it can be exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to facilitate a more significant attack. Security best practices should be observed to mitigate such disclosures.

The Full Path Disclosure vulnerability typically occurs when specific PHP files within the plugin can be accessed directly. If an attacker successfully requests such files, the server may return error messages that inadvertently disclose the full path of the server file system. Indicators such as error codes and error descriptions in the response reveal the issue, often featuring messages like "Fatal error" or "Uncaught Error" combined with path information. Analyzing server responses for these patterns can help in identifying the existence of this vulnerability. Preventative measures usually involve modifying server configurations to handle errors more discreetly.

When a Full Path Disclosure vulnerability is exploited, it can lead to various security risks. Attackers could use the disclosed file paths to plan further attacks targeting specific files or scripts. It facilitates reconnaissance activities, allowing hackers to tailor their approaches based on the acquired system architecture information. In a worst-case scenario, coupled with other vulnerabilities, this information could contribute to full-scale server breaches. While not a direct threat, it acts as a building block for more severe exploits if left unaddressed.

REFERENCES

• https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/