CVE-2023-25969: Missing Authorization in ThemeHunk Contact Form Plugin

Technical summary

CVE-2023-25969 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the ThemeHunk Contact Form & Lead Form Elementor Builder plugin affecting versions through 1.8.4. The plugin does not implement sufficient authorization checks to prevent unauthorized users from performing restricted actions. The network-accessible nature of the vulnerability and lack of authentication requirements means an attacker can craft requests to exploit inadequately controlled endpoints. The CVSS v3.1 score of 5.4 reflects low-to-moderate impact on data integrity and availability with low attack complexity.

Business impact

Organizations using this plugin to manage leads or collect contact information face risk of data tampering and denial of service. An attacker could modify form submissions, corrupt captured lead data, or prevent legitimate form functionality. For businesses relying on these forms for customer acquisition or support workflows, such interference could damage data reliability and customer experience. The impact is contained by the requirement for user interaction, reducing the likelihood of large-scale automated exploitation.

Affected systems

ThemeHunk Contact Form & Lead Form Elementor Builder plugin versions 1.8.4 and earlier are vulnerable. This plugin extends WordPress and Elementor page builders, so any WordPress installation using this plugin at a vulnerable version is at risk. Verify your installed version in the plugin management dashboard.

Exploitability

The vulnerability has a low attack complexity and requires no privileges to exploit, but does require user interaction (UI:R in the CVSS vector). This means an attacker must induce a user to click a link or visit a crafted page for the exploit to succeed. It is not passively exploitable through network scanning or automated mass attacks. The accessibility makes it moderately attractive to targeted attacks against organizations using this plugin.

Remediation

Update the ThemeHunk Contact Form & Lead Form Elementor Builder plugin to a patched version released after 1.8.4. Verify the latest available version in the official WordPress plugin repository or ThemeHunk's website. Until patching is possible, restrict form access to authenticated users where feasible, or disable the plugin if it is not actively used. Review form submission logs for signs of unauthorized modifications.

Patch guidance

Check the ThemeHunk Contact Form & Lead Form Elementor Builder plugin page in the WordPress plugin directory for available updates. Apply the latest version that addresses CVE-2023-25969—verify the release notes confirm the fix. Test the updated plugin in a staging environment before production deployment to ensure compatibility with your Elementor version and custom form configurations. If automatic updates are enabled, ensure the plugin updates without manual intervention.

Detection guidance

Monitor form submission logs for submissions from unauthenticated users or unexpected data changes. Review web server access logs for requests to form processing endpoints from unusual sources or with suspicious parameters. Audit plugin access logs if available. Check the WordPress admin audit trail (via security plugins) for unauthorized modifications to forms or form settings. A security plugin with WAF capabilities can help detect and block malformed authorization bypass attempts.

Why prioritize this

Although the CVSS score is medium (5.4), prioritization should account for the specific role of the plugin. Contact forms and lead capture are often critical to business operations; compromise of this functionality or the data it collects is directly business-damaging. The ease of attack (low complexity, no authentication required) combined with the reliance on user interaction makes this a moderate-risk item that should be patched within a standard update cycle. It is not an emergency but warrants prompt attention.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS v3.1 score of 5.4 (MEDIUM) reflects: (1) Network accessibility (AV:N) and low attack complexity (AC:L) increasing exploitability; (2) no confidentiality impact (C:N), limited integrity and availability impact (I:L/A:L) as the attacker can modify or disrupt forms but not access sensitive data directly; (3) requirement for user interaction (UI:R) reducing the practical attack frequency. The score appropriately captures a real but contained risk.

Frequently asked questions