The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1416 affects the themehunk Responsive Contact Form Builder & Lead Generation Plugin for WordPress, specifically all versions up to 1.8.9. It is classified as a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability under CWE-352. The root cause is the absence of proper capability checks on several plugin functions, which means that these functions can be invoked by unauthenticated attackers if they can trick an authenticated user into submitting a crafted request. This vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the plugin's scope, potentially altering form configurations or lead generation parameters without the site administrator's consent. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as clicking a malicious link or visiting a crafted webpage. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or availability directly but can affect the integrity of the plugin’s data or settings. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the plugin’s widespread use in WordPress environments makes it a notable risk. The vulnerability’s CVSS score of 4.3 reflects a medium severity level, emphasizing the need for timely mitigation to prevent unauthorized changes that could lead to further exploitation or data manipulation.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-1416 is the unauthorized modification of plugin functionality due to CSRF attacks. This can lead to integrity issues where attackers manipulate contact form settings or lead generation configurations, potentially redirecting leads, injecting malicious content, or disrupting normal form operations. While confidentiality and availability are not directly affected, the integrity compromise can facilitate further attacks such as phishing or data exfiltration through manipulated forms. Organizations relying on this plugin for lead generation or customer contact risk losing trust, experiencing data inaccuracies, or facing reputational damage. The ease of exploitation—requiring only user interaction without authentication—makes it a practical threat, especially for sites with high traffic or less security-aware administrators. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate widespread impact, but the vulnerability remains a significant risk if weaponized. Enterprises with large WordPress deployments or those in sectors relying heavily on lead generation (e.g., marketing, sales, SMBs) are particularly vulnerable.

To mitigate CVE-2024-1416, organizations should first check for and apply any available updates or patches from themehunk as soon as they are released. In the absence of official patches, administrators should implement strict CSRF protections at the web server or application firewall level, such as validating origin headers and enforcing anti-CSRF tokens for all state-changing requests. Restricting access to the WordPress admin panel and plugin settings to trusted IP addresses or VPNs can reduce exposure. Regularly auditing plugin permissions and capabilities to ensure only authorized users can invoke sensitive functions is critical. Monitoring web server logs and WordPress activity logs for unusual POST requests or changes in plugin settings can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, educating users about the risks of clicking untrusted links and employing browser security features that block cross-site requests can reduce the likelihood of successful CSRF attacks. Finally, consider alternative plugins with stronger security postures if timely patching is not feasible.