Local File Inclusion in Happyforms WordPress Plugin

Executive Summary

The vulnerability exists in the Happyforms – Form Builder for WordPress plugin, specifically in all versions up to and including 1.26.12. It is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability found in the happyforms_get_form_partial() function.

This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Administrator-level access or higher to include and execute arbitrary .php files on the server. By doing so, they can run any PHP code contained in those files.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can have serious impacts including bypassing access controls, obtaining sensitive data, and executing arbitrary code on the server.

• Bypassing access controls
• Obtaining sensitive data stored on the server
• Executing arbitrary PHP code, which can lead to full compromise of the server

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability affects the Happyforms WordPress plugin versions up to and including 1.26.12 and requires authenticated attackers with Administrator-level access. Detection involves verifying the plugin version installed on your WordPress site.

Since the vulnerability is a Local File Inclusion via the happyforms_get_form_partial() function, detection on the network level is difficult without specific exploit signatures.

You can check the installed version of the Happyforms plugin by running the following WP-CLI command on your WordPress installation:

• wp plugin list --status=active | grep happyforms

If the version is 1.26.12 or lower, your system is vulnerable.

Additionally, you can search your web server logs for suspicious requests targeting the happyforms_get_form_partial() function or unusual POST requests to the plugin's AJAX endpoints, which might indicate exploitation attempts.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability, immediately update the Happyforms plugin to a version later than 1.26.12 where the Local File Inclusion issue is fixed.

If an update is not immediately possible, restrict Administrator-level access to trusted users only, as exploitation requires authenticated Administrator privileges.

Additionally, review and harden file upload restrictions to prevent uploading of arbitrary .php files that could be included and executed.

Monitor your server logs for any suspicious activity related to the plugin and consider temporarily disabling the plugin if exploitation is suspected.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Compliance Impact

The vulnerability in the Happyforms plugin allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server, which can lead to bypassing access controls and obtaining sensitive data.

Such unauthorized access and potential data exposure could negatively impact compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which require strict controls over sensitive data and secure handling to prevent unauthorized access.

If exploited, this vulnerability could result in breaches of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information, thereby violating regulatory requirements.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0