Stored XSS in FormyChat Social Contact Form

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-57379 is a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress FormyChat Plugin versions 2.15.3 and below. It occurs due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute when visitors access the affected site.

Exploitation requires user interaction, such as clicking a malicious link or submitting a form, but can be initiated by unauthenticated users. The vulnerability is categorized under OWASP Top 10 category A3: Injection.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in the WordPress FormyChat plugin versions 2.15.3 and below. Detection typically involves checking the plugin version and monitoring for suspicious script injections or unusual behavior in form submissions.

To detect if your system is vulnerable, first verify the installed version of the FormyChat plugin. For example, you can use the following command on your WordPress installation directory to check the plugin version:

• grep 'Version:' wp-content/plugins/formychat/readme.txt

Additionally, you can scan your website for suspicious script tags or payloads in form inputs or stored data. Using web vulnerability scanners that support XSS detection or manual inspection of form inputs and stored messages may help.

Network detection might include monitoring HTTP requests for suspicious payloads or unusual user interactions that trigger the XSS, but no specific commands are provided in the resources.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can lead to attackers injecting malicious scripts into your website, which may result in redirects to malicious sites, unauthorized advertisements, or other harmful actions executed in the context of your visitors' browsers.

Because the vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.1, it represents a moderate risk and could be exploited in widespread attacks targeting many websites. Successful exploitation can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your site.

Immediate mitigation involves updating the FormyChat plugin to version 2.15.4 or later, or applying available mitigation rules to block attacks until the update is applied.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability, a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue, can impact compliance with standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA due to its potential to compromise data integrity and confidentiality.

• GDPR: The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that could steal sensitive user data, such as cookies or session tokens, which may include personally identifiable information (PII). Under GDPR, organizations must protect PII from unauthorized access or disclosure. Failure to mitigate this vulnerability could result in non-compliance with GDPR's data protection requirements, leading to potential fines or legal consequences.
• HIPAA: If the affected plugin is used in a healthcare-related context (e.g., handling patient data), the vulnerability could expose protected health information (PHI) to unauthorized access. HIPAA requires strict safeguards for PHI, and exploitation of this vulnerability could violate the Security Rule, which mandates protection against threats to data integrity and confidentiality.
• Other standards: The vulnerability falls under OWASP Top 10 category A3: Injection, which is a critical security risk. Compliance frameworks like PCI DSS (for payment data) or ISO 27001 (for information security management) require addressing such vulnerabilities to maintain compliance. Failure to patch or mitigate the issue could result in non-compliance with these standards.

Organizations using the vulnerable plugin should update to version 2.15.4 or later to mitigate the risk and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

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Mitigation Strategies

The immediate recommended step is to update the WordPress FormyChat plugin to version 2.15.4 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched.

Until the update can be applied, Patchstack has provided a mitigation rule to block attacks exploiting this vulnerability. Applying such a mitigation rule can help reduce risk temporarily.

Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, educating users to avoid clicking suspicious links or submitting untrusted forms can also help mitigate risk.

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