Unauthenticated XSS in Contact Form 7 Message Filter

Executive Summary

This is an Unauthenticated Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the Message Filter for Contact Form 7 plugin versions up to and including 1.6.3.9. XSS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. Since it is unauthenticated, no user login is required to exploit this issue.

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Detection Guidance

To detect this XSS vulnerability in Contact Form 7 versions <= 1.6.3.9, inspect web forms for improper input sanitization. Check for reflected or stored XSS by submitting test payloads like <script>alert(1)</script> in form fields and observe if the script executes. Review server logs for unusual input patterns.

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Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of users without their consent. This could lead to account takeovers, data theft, or defacement of the website.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to user data, which may violate GDPR's data protection requirements or HIPAA's safeguards for protected health information. Organizations could face fines or penalties for failing to protect user data adequately.

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Mitigation Strategies

Update Message Filter for Contact Form 7 to the latest version to patch the XSS vulnerability. If an update is not available, consider disabling the plugin temporarily until a fix is released.

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