CVE-2023-2301 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-2301, assigned by Wordfence, was published on June 3, 2023. It affects the Contact Form Builder by vcita plugin for WordPress, making it vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery.

Understanding CVE-2023-2301

This vulnerability in the Contact Form Builder by vcita plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate plugin settings and inject malicious JavaScript through a forged request.

What is CVE-2023-2301?

CVE-2023-2301 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in versions up to 4.9.1 of the Contact Form Builder plugin by vcita for WordPress. Attackers can exploit this flaw to trick site administrators into unintended actions, compromising site security.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2301

The impact of CVE-2023-2301 is significant as it enables unauthorized users to modify plugin settings and insert harmful code into a WordPress site. This can lead to various malicious activities and potential data breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2301

The vulnerability arises due to missing nonce validation in the ls_parse_vcita_callback function of the plugin, allowing attackers to perform CSRF attacks.

Vulnerability Description

The missing nonce validation on the ls_parse_vcita_callback function enables attackers to send forged requests to manipulate the plugin settings and insert malicious JavaScript code.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects versions of the Contact Form Builder plugin by vcita up to and including 4.9.1. Sites using these versions are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking site administrators into triggering a CSRF attack, giving them the ability to modify plugin settings and inject malicious code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing and mitigating CVE-2023-2301 is crucial to maintaining the security of WordPress sites using the Contact Form Builder plugin by vcita.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Contact Form Builder plugin to a version beyond 4.9.1 to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor site activity for any suspicious changes or injected code.
Educate site administrators about CSRF attacks and best security practices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update WordPress plugins and themes to their latest secure versions.
Implement strong authentication measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Conduct security audits and scans to detect vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Plugin developers should release patches promptly to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-2301. Site administrators must apply these updates promptly to enhance site security and protect against potential exploits.