Cross-Site Redirect in Contact Form 7 WordPress Plugin

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is an open redirect flaw in the Contact Form 7 – PayPal & Stripe Add-on plugin for WordPress, affecting versions before 2.5. An unauthenticated attacker can manipulate the return URL parameter in a Stripe checkout process to redirect victims to an attacker-controlled domain after a legitimate payment. The plugin fails to validate the host of the return URL properly, only checking basic URL format without ensuring it belongs to the same domain.

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Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, check the installed version of the Contact Form 7 – PayPal & Stripe Add-on plugin. If the version is below 2.5, the system is vulnerable. Use commands like 'wp plugin list' in WordPress or inspect the plugin directory for version details.

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Impact Analysis

An attacker could trick you into clicking a malicious link that appears legitimate. After you complete a Stripe payment, you might be redirected to a fake error page controlled by the attacker, potentially leading to phishing attacks, credential theft, or malware downloads. This could compromise your personal or financial information.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially impact compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by enabling phishing attacks. An attacker could redirect users to malicious sites after a payment, tricking them into disclosing sensitive information. This may violate data protection requirements under GDPR for user consent and security, and HIPAA for safeguarding protected health information during transactions.

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Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update the Contact Form 7 – PayPal & Stripe Add-on plugin to version 2.5 or later. If updating is not possible, disable the plugin until an update is applied. Review server logs for suspicious redirect attempts.

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