CVE-2023-51413 - Missing Authorization vulnerability in Piotnet Forms allows unauthorized access to sensitive information

Introduction: The content within this post contains details about 'Missing Authorization vulnerability' found in Piotnet Forms plugin, affecting all versions from n/a through 1..29. The vulnerability is assigned the CVE number CVE-2023-51413, as per the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database.

Product: Piotnet Forms

- Affected versions: n/a - 1..29

About Piotnet Forms and the vulnerability

Piotnet Forms is a popular WordPress plugin used for creating and managing online forms. The plugin is widely used for contact forms, lead generation, and data collection in various websites.

The vulnerability revolves around a possible unauthorized access to sensitive information, due to 'Missing Authorization' in Piotnet Forms versions up to 1..29. The vulnerability is being tracked under CVE-2023-51413, and has potential severe consequences, as an attacker can gain access to and manipulate sensitive data.

Exploit Details

The 'Missing Authorization' vulnerability in Piotnet Forms allows a malicious user to bypass the standard authentication process, which in turn allows the unauthorized user to access sensitive information without any security challenge.

The following code snippet illustrates the vulnerability in the specific version of Piotnet Forms

// Sample code snippet from Piotnet Forms version 1..29
function pafe_handle_ajax_request()
{
    if (isset($_POST['post_id'])) {
        $post_id = $_POST['post_id'];
        if (!is_user_logged_in() && !is_user_permission($post_id)) {
            // No security challenge or authorization checks here
        } else {
            // Regular authorized actions
        }
    }
}

In this code snippet, an attacker can craft an HTTP POST request that contains the 'post_id' parameter, which could trigger the vulnerable code section without any security challenge or authorization checks. This could allow an attacker to access sensitive information and perform unauthorized actions in a targeted website.

To prevent this vulnerability from being exploited, proper authorization checks should be added to the Piotnet Forms plugin code.

Official Patch and Recommendations

The developers of Piotnet Forms have been notified and they've released a patch to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to upgrade their Piotnet Forms plugin to the latest version available.

You can find more information about the patch and recommendations at the following links

- Piotnet Forms Changelog: https://wordpress.org/plugins/piotnet-forms/#developers
- CVE-2023-51413: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-51413

Conclusion

It is crucial for website owners and administrators to understand the importance of keeping their plugins and systems up-to-date. Regular updates to your website ecosystem, along with a proper security assessment, can go a long way in ensuring the safety and privacy of user data.

The 'Missing Authorization vulnerability' (CVE-2023-51413) in Piotnet Forms should be taken seriously, and users should update their Piotnet Forms plugin to the latest version to avoid falling victim to potential attacks targeting this vulnerability.

Timeline

Published on: 06/12/2024 10:15:28 UTC
Last modified on: 06/13/2024 18:36:09 UTC