CVE-2025-23623 is a high-severity reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the Mahesh Bisen Contact Form 7 – CCAvenue Add-on. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages, which could lead to unauthorized actions such as data theft or session hijacking. The issue specifically affects versions of the add-on up to and including 1.0, necessitating immediate attention from organizations utilizing this plugin. The vulnerability was published on January 16, 2025, and its exploitation could pose significant risks to user data integrity.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.1, classified as high severity, indicating that it presents a serious threat to systems. Risk to organizations includes potential data exposure, loss of user trust, and compliance violations. Given its high CVSS score, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Currently, there are no known public exploits or proof-of-concept scripts available for this vulnerability. However, attackers may leverage this vulnerability due to its nature, making it essential for organizations to schedule remediation as part of their security practices.
Organizations using the affected version of the Contact Form 7 – CCAvenue Add-on must take this threat seriously and ensure they are applying all necessary security updates and patches to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows improper neutralization of input during web page generation, leading to reflected XSS attacks. It is classified under CWE-79, which pertains to improper input validation. The vulnerability has a low attack complexity, requires no privileges, and user interaction is necessary to exploit it. The potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated as low.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation when generating web pages. Attackers can craft a malicious link that, when clicked by a user, executes JavaScript code in the context of the user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions. The attack vector is network-based, and the complexity is low, meaning that even low-skilled attackers can exploit it if the user interacts with the malicious content.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for organizations that rely on the Mahesh Bisen Contact Form 7 – CCAvenue Add-on for processing user inputs. The potential blast radius includes any user who interacts with the compromised web application, potentially exposing sensitive information and leading to unauthorized transactions. Organizations must assess their exposure and prioritize patching this vulnerability as part of their security posture.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of the Mahesh Bisen Contact Form 7 – CCAvenue Add-on up to and including version 1.0. Organizations must ensure they upgrade to a patched version to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability by updating the Mahesh Bisen Contact Form 7 – CCAvenue Add-on to a secure version. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing web application firewalls to filter out malicious payloads, and ensure robust input validation and sanitization practices are in place. For detailed guidance on implementing these practices, organizations can refer to the application security assessment resources.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor web application logs for unusual input patterns that may indicate XSS attempts. Additionally, review user session activity for any anomalies that could suggest unauthorized actions. Implementing security information and event management (SIEM) solutions can aid in identifying these behavioral anomalies.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the ongoing importance of secure coding practices, particularly in web applications that handle user input. The low attack complexity associated with this vulnerability indicates that organizations must remain vigilant in their security measures. To further bolster defenses, security teams should consider engaging in penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities and strengthen their security posture. Implementing comprehensive security testing strategies is crucial to proactively mitigating risks.
Additionally, organizations should stay informed about trends in web application vulnerabilities, which can be achieved by following industry reports and insights. Engaging with resources such as the vulnerability management program design will provide further context on mitigating risks associated with application vulnerabilities.
Finally, as attackers continue to evolve their tactics, security teams must adopt a proactive approach to security. This includes regular penetration testing methodology to ensure all potential vulnerabilities are identified and addressed.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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