CVE-2023-6830 is a medium-severity security vulnerability affecting the Formidable Forms plugin for WordPress, developed by sswells. This plugin is widely used for creating contact forms, surveys, quizzes, payment forms, calculators, and custom forms on WordPress websites. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79, which corresponds to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as Cross-site Scripting (XSS). Specifically, this flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary HTML code into form fields. When an administrator views the submitted form entries in the Entries View Page within the WordPress admin dashboard, the malicious HTML payload is rendered. This can lead to several attack scenarios including defacement of the admin interface, redirection to malicious websites, or potentially executing further client-side attacks such as stealing admin session cookies or performing actions on behalf of the admin user. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Formidable Forms plugin up to and including version 6.7. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (remote), requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the ease of injection and the high-privilege context of the admin interface make this a significant risk if exploited. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or fully deployed, increasing the urgency for affected sites to monitor updates and apply patches promptly once released.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-6830 can be substantial, particularly for those relying on WordPress websites with Formidable Forms installed for customer interaction, data collection, or internal workflows. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized HTML injection in the admin interface, potentially enabling attackers to deface the website’s backend, redirect administrators to phishing or malware sites, or execute further client-side attacks that compromise admin credentials or session tokens. This can result in data breaches, loss of trust, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed or manipulated. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, it can be exploited remotely by any attacker scanning for vulnerable sites, increasing the attack surface. The integrity of administrative data and the confidentiality of sensitive information managed through the plugin are at risk. While availability is not directly impacted, the indirect consequences of a compromised admin interface could lead to downtime or loss of control over the website. European organizations with high web presence, especially in sectors like e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government, where WordPress is commonly used, should consider this vulnerability a priority for remediation.

To mitigate CVE-2023-6830 effectively, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit all WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the Formidable Forms plugin. 2) Monitor the official plugin repository and vendor announcements for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them as soon as they become available. 3) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious HTML or script injection attempts targeting form fields, especially those originating from unauthenticated sources. 4) Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface by IP whitelisting or VPN to reduce exposure to remote attackers. 5) Educate administrators to be cautious when reviewing form entries and to report any unusual content or behavior immediately. 6) Consider deploying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of injected scripts within the admin interface. 7) Regularly back up WordPress sites and databases to enable quick restoration in case of defacement or compromise. 8) Conduct security scans and penetration tests focused on input validation and XSS vulnerabilities in custom or third-party plugins. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive detection, access control, and layered defenses tailored to the specific attack vector of this vulnerability.