CVE-2023-6133 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-6133 was recently published by Wordfence on November 15, 2023. The vulnerability affects the Forminator plugin for WordPress, allowing authenticated attackers with administrator-level capabilities to upload arbitrary files on the server due to insufficient blacklisting in versions up to 1.27.0.

Understanding CVE-2023-6133

This section delves deeper into the nature of CVE-2023-6133, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-6133?

CVE-2023-6133 pertains to a vulnerability in the Forminator plugin for WordPress that enables authenticated attackers to perform arbitrary file uploads on the server.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6133

The vulnerability in the Forminator plugin can be exploited by attackers with administrator-level access, potentially leading to unauthorized file uploads on the server. However, remote code execution is prevented due to the htaccess configuration.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6133

Here are the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-6133 vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient blacklisting on the 'forminator_allowed_mime_types' function in Forminator versions up to and including 1.27.0, allowing attackers to upload files.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Forminator plugin versions up to 1.27.0 are impacted by this vulnerability, with the potential for arbitrary file uploads.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with administrator-level capabilities or higher can exploit the vulnerability to upload unauthorized files to the server.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-6133, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Forminator plugin to a version beyond 1.27.0 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and restrict permissions for user roles to minimize the risk of unauthorized file uploads.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit file uploads and user activities on the website to detect any suspicious behavior.
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to add an additional layer of security against potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by plugin developers to address known vulnerabilities promptly. Regularly update all plugins and themes to ensure a secure WordPress environment.