Vulnerabilities > CVE-2014-2265 - Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls vulnerability in Rocklobster Contact Form 7 3.6/3.7/3.7.1

047910
CVSS 0.0 - NONE
Attack vector
UNKNOWN
Attack complexity
UNKNOWN
Privileges required
UNKNOWN
Confidentiality impact
UNKNOWN
Integrity impact
UNKNOWN
Availability impact
UNKNOWN

Summary

Rock Lobster Contact Form 7 before 3.7.2 allows remote attackers to bypass the CAPTCHA protection mechanism and submit arbitrary form data by omitting the _wpcf7_captcha_challenge_captcha-719 parameter.

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Accessing, Modifying or Executing Executable Files
    An attack of this type exploits a system's configuration that allows an attacker to either directly access an executable file, for example through shell access; or in a possible worst case allows an attacker to upload a file and then execute it. Web servers, ftp servers, and message oriented middleware systems which have many integration points are particularly vulnerable, because both the programmers and the administrators must be in synch regarding the interfaces and the correct privileges for each interface.
  • Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
    An attack of this type exploits a system's trust in configuration and resource files, when the executable loads the resource (such as an image file or configuration file) the attacker has modified the file to either execute malicious code directly or manipulate the target process (e.g. application server) to execute based on the malicious configuration parameters. Since systems are increasingly interrelated mashing up resources from local and remote sources the possibility of this attack occurring is high. The attack can be directed at a client system, such as causing buffer overrun through loading seemingly benign image files, as in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-028 where specially crafted JPEG files could cause a buffer overrun once loaded into the browser. Another example targets clients reading pdf files. In this case the attacker simply appends javascript to the end of a legitimate url for a pdf (http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/danger-danger-danger/) http://path/to/pdf/file.pdf#whatever_name_you_want=javascript:your_code_here The client assumes that they are reading a pdf, but the attacker has modified the resource and loaded executable javascript into the client's browser process. The attack can also target server processes. The attacker edits the resource or configuration file, for example a web.xml file used to configure security permissions for a J2EE app server, adding role name "public" grants all users with the public role the ability to use the administration functionality. The server trusts its configuration file to be correct, but when they are manipulated, the attacker gains full control.
  • Blue Boxing
    This type of attack against older telephone switches and trunks has been around for decades. A tone is sent by an adversary to impersonate a supervisor signal which has the effect of rerouting or usurping command of the line. While the US infrastructure proper may not contain widespread vulnerabilities to this type of attack, many companies are connected globally through call centers and business process outsourcing. These international systems may be operated in countries which have not upgraded Telco infrastructure and so are vulnerable to Blue boxing. Blue boxing is a result of failure on the part of the system to enforce strong authorization for administrative functions. While the infrastructure is different than standard current applications like web applications, there are historical lessons to be learned to upgrade the access control for administrative functions.
  • Restful Privilege Elevation
    Rest uses standard HTTP (Get, Put, Delete) style permissions methods, but these are not necessarily correlated generally with back end programs. Strict interpretation of HTTP get methods means that these HTTP Get services should not be used to delete information on the server, but there is no access control mechanism to back up this logic. This means that unless the services are properly ACL'd and the application's service implementation are following these guidelines then an HTTP request can easily execute a delete or update on the server side. The attacker identifies a HTTP Get URL such as http://victimsite/updateOrder, which calls out to a program to update orders on a database or other resource. The URL is not idempotent so the request can be submitted multiple times by the attacker, additionally, the attacker may be able to exploit the URL published as a Get method that actually performs updates (instead of merely retrieving data). This may result in malicious or inadvertent altering of data on the server.
  • Target Programs with Elevated Privileges
    This attack targets programs running with elevated privileges. The attacker would try to leverage a bug in the running program and get arbitrary code to execute with elevated privileges. For instance an attacker would look for programs that write to the system directories or registry keys (such as HKLM, which stores a number of critical Windows environment variables). These programs are typically running with elevated privileges and have usually not been designed with security in mind. Such programs are excellent exploit targets because they yield lots of power when they break. The malicious user try to execute its code at the same level as a privileged system call.

Nessus

NASL familyCGI abuses
NASL idWORDPRESS_CONTACT_FORM_7_CAPTCHA_BYPASS.NASL
descriptionThe Contact Form 7 Plugin for WordPress installed on the remote host is affected by a CAPTCHA validation bypass vulnerability due to a failure to properly verify that the CAPTCHA field has been submitted. This can allow an attacker to bypass the CAPTCHA and send spam or other types of data through the affected host.
last seen2020-06-01
modified2020-06-02
plugin id76169
published2014-06-20
reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/76169
titleContact Form 7 Plugin for WordPress CAPTCHA Validation Bypass
code
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(76169);
  script_version("1.7");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/11/26");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2014-2265");
  script_bugtraq_id(66381);

  script_name(english:"Contact Form 7 Plugin for WordPress CAPTCHA Validation Bypass");
  script_summary(english:"Attempts to bypass a CAPTCHA.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote web server contains a PHP application that is affected by a
CAPTCHA validation bypass vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Contact Form 7 Plugin for WordPress installed on the remote host
is affected by a CAPTCHA validation bypass vulnerability due to a
failure to properly verify that the CAPTCHA field has been submitted.
This can allow an attacker to bypass the CAPTCHA and send spam or
other types of data through the affected host.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.hedgehogsecurity.co.uk/2014/02/26/contactform7-vulnerability/");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.zerodaylab.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-2014/CVE-2014-2265.html");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://contactform7.com/2014/02/26/contact-form-7-372/");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/#changelog");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to version 3.7.2 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:C");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No exploit is required");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_nessus", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2014/02/26");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/02/26");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/06/20");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:rocklobster:contact_form_7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:wordpress:wordpress");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_ATTACK);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("wordpress_detect.nasl");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/WordPress", "www/PHP");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80);

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");
include("http.inc");
include("webapp_func.inc");

app = "WordPress";
get_install_count(app_name:app, exit_if_zero:TRUE);

port = get_http_port(default:80, php:TRUE);

install = get_single_install(
  app_name : app,
  port     : port
);

dir = install['path'];
install_url = build_url(port:port, qs:dir);

plugin = "Contact Form 7 Plugin";

# Check KB first
installed = get_kb_item("www/"+port+"/webapp_ext/"+plugin+" under "+dir);

if (!installed)
{
  path = "/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/languages/";

  checks = make_array();
  regexes = make_list();
  regexes[0] = make_list(
  "Project-Id-Version: (WP )?Contact Form 7", 'msgid "Contact Form 7"');

  # Versions 3.6+ -> contact-form-7.pot
  # Versions 1.6.1 - 3.5.4 ->  wpcf7.pot
  # Versions 1.1 - 1.6 -> wpcf7-ja.po

  checks[path + "contact-form-7.pot"] = regexes;
  checks[path + "wpcf7.pot"] = regexes;
  checks[path + "wpcf7-ja.po"] = regexes;

  # Ensure plugin is installed
  installed = check_webapp_ext(
    checks : checks,
    dir    : dir,
    port   : port,
    ext    : plugin
  );
}
if (!installed)
audit(AUDIT_WEB_APP_EXT_NOT_INST, app, install_url, plugin + " plugin");

# Get URL's from KB for contact form location
if (isnull(dir)) dir = "/";
cgis = get_kb_list_or_exit('www/' + port + '/cgi-params' + dir + '/*');
urls = make_list();

# Make a list of cgi-params for our directory and that contain 'wpcf7'
foreach cgi (keys(cgis))
{
  if (isnull(dir)) dir = "/";
  if (egrep(pattern:"wpcf7$", string:cgi))
  {
    page = cgi - ('www/'+port+'/cgi-params');
    # Numeric Permalink
    if ("#wpcf7" >< page)
    {
      page2 = ereg_replace(
        pattern : "(#wpcf7.*)",
        string  : page,
        replace : ""
      );
    }
    # Day and name / Month and name / Post name Permalink
    else
    {
      page2 = ereg_replace(
        pattern : "("+dir+"/[^/]+/).*",
        string  : page,
        replace : "\1"
      );
    }
    urls = make_list(urls, page2);
  }
  # page_id= is used for pages, while p= is used for posts
  # Grab both from KB.  Used when permalinks are 'Default'
  if ("/page_id" >< cgi || egrep(pattern:"/p$", string:cgi))
  {
    page = cgi - ('www/'+port+'/cgi-params');
    page2 = page + "=" + cgis[cgi];
    # normalize URL.  IE: /wordpress//p=2 becomes /wordpress/?p=2
    page2 = ereg_replace(pattern:"(//)", string:page2, replace:"/?");
    urls = make_list(urls, page2);
  }
}
urls = list_uniq(urls);
vuln = FALSE;

# Increase timeout to ensure we allow enough time to review our POST response
http_set_read_timeout(get_read_timeout() * 2);

foreach url (urls)
{
  res = http_send_recv3(
    method : "GET",
    item   : url,
    port   : port,
    exit_on_fail : TRUE
  );

  # Only test CAPTCHA bypass if there is a CAPTCHA being used
  if ('name="_wpcf7_captcha_challenge' >< res[2])
  {
    send_post = TRUE;
    # Get required fields to craft the POST request
    match = eregmatch(pattern:'"_wpcf7" value="(.+)"', string:res[2]);
    if (!isnull(match)) wpcf7 = match[1];

    match2 = eregmatch(pattern:'"_wpnonce" value="(.+)"', string:res[2]);
    if (!isnull(match2)) wp_nonce = match2[1];

    field_data = '';
    matches = egrep(pattern:"wpcf7-validates-as-required", string:res[2]);

    if ( (isnull(matches)) || (matches == "") ) send_post = FALSE;
    else send_post = TRUE;

    foreach match (split(matches))
    {
      rand_data = rand_str();
      m1 = eregmatch(pattern:'name="(.+)" value=', string:match);
      if (!isnull(m1))
      {
        if ("email" >< m1[1]) rand_data = rand_data + "@nessus.org";
        field_data += m1[1] + "=" + rand_data + "&";
      }
    }
    fields = "_wpcf7=" +wpcf7 + "&_wpnonce=" + wp_nonce + "&" + field_data +
      "_wpcf7_is_ajax_call=1";

    if (send_post)
    {
      res2 = http_send_recv3(
        method : "POST",
        port   : port,
        item   : url,
        data   : fields,
        content_type : "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
        exit_on_fail : TRUE
      );
      # Sleep to give us time to review our response before sending our next req
      sleep(3);
      if ('{"mailSent":true' >< res2[2])
      {
        vuln = TRUE;
        msg = ' with the following request';
        extra_info = http_last_sent_request() + '\n';
        break;
      }
    }
  }

  if (!vuln)
  {
    # No Captcha or above attack failed, fallback to version check
    if ('name="_wpcf7_version"' >< res[2])
    {
      match = eregmatch(
        pattern : 'name="_wpcf7_version" value="(.+)"',
        string  : res[2]
      );
      if (!isnull(match))  version = match[1];

      # fixed ver is 3.7.2
      ver = split(version, sep:'.', keep:FALSE);
        for (i=0; i<max_index(ver); i++)
          ver[i] = int(ver[i]);

      if (
        (ver[0] < 3) ||
        (ver[0] == 3 && ver[1] < 7) ||
        (ver[0] == 3 && ver[1] == 7 && ver[2] < 2)
      )
      {
        vuln = TRUE;
        msg = ' by examining the version reported by the \n' + app;
        extra_info =
         '\n  URL               : ' +install_url + url+
         '\n  Installed version : ' +version+
         '\n  Fixed version     : 3.7.2\n';
        break;
      }
    }
  }
}

if (!vuln)
  audit(AUDIT_WEB_APP_EXT_NOT_AFFECTED, app, install_url, plugin + " plugin");

if (report_verbosity > 0)
{
  report =
    '\n' + 'Nessus was able to verify this issue'+ msg + " : " +
    '\n' + extra_info;
  security_warning(port:port, extra:report);
}
else security_warning(port);