CVE-2023-6449 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-6449 involves a vulnerability in the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress, potentially allowing authenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on a website's server.

Understanding CVE-2023-6449

This section will provide an overview of the CVE-2023-6449 vulnerability in the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress.

What is CVE-2023-6449?

The Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress is susceptible to arbitrary file uploads due to inadequate file type validation in the 'validate' function and insufficient blocklisting in the 'wpcf7_antiscript_file_name' function. Attackers with editor-level access or higher can exploit this, up to version 5.8.3.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6449

The vulnerability in Contact Form 7 allows for upload of malicious files by authenticated attackers, potentially leading to remote code execution when combined with other vulnerabilities. While the default configuration deletes the file immediately, certain circumstances could allow the file to persist, posing a risk of remote code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6449

In this section, we will delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-6449, covering the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw lies in insufficient file type validation and blocklisting functions of Contact Form 7, version 5.8.3 and prior, enabling attackers to upload arbitrary files on the server.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Contact Form 7 WordPress plugin versions up to and including 5.8.3. Websites using these versions are at risk of arbitrary file uploads by authenticated attackers.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with editor-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability to upload malicious files onto the server, potentially enabling remote code execution when combined with other vulnerabilities.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section will outline steps to mitigate the CVE-2023-6449 vulnerability in the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Contact Form 7 plugin to version 5.8.4 or later to address the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and audit file uploads on the website to detect any unauthorized activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement principle of least privilege by restricting user roles to minimize exposure to vulnerabilities.
Regularly review and update security configurations and plugins to stay protected against emerging threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by Contact Form 7 and promptly apply them to safeguard the website against known vulnerabilities.