CVE-2024-4319 is a vulnerability identified in the Advanced Contact form 7 DB plugin for WordPress, maintained by vsourz1td. The issue stems from a missing authorization check in the 'vsz_cf7_export_to_excel' function, which is responsible for exporting submitted form entries to Excel format. This function does not verify whether the requester has the necessary capabilities or permissions, allowing any unauthenticated user to invoke it and download sensitive form submission data. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.0.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level due to the network attack vector, no required privileges, and no user interaction needed. The impact is limited to confidentiality as attackers can access data but cannot modify or disrupt the system. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability falls under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), a common security weakness where access control checks are omitted or improperly implemented. This flaw exposes potentially sensitive user-submitted data collected via contact forms, which may include personal information, depending on the form's configuration. Since WordPress is widely used globally and this plugin is popular for managing contact form data, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations relying on it for data collection and storage.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-4319 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data submitted through contact forms. Attackers can remotely and anonymously download all stored form entries, potentially exposing personal identifiable information (PII), business contact details, or other confidential data. This breach of confidentiality can lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), reputational damage, and potential follow-on attacks such as phishing or social engineering. Since the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability, the risk is confined to data leakage. However, the ease of exploitation—requiring no authentication or user interaction—makes it a significant threat for organizations using the affected plugin. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited active exploitation currently, but the vulnerability could be targeted once widely publicized or automated exploit tools emerge. Organizations with high volumes of sensitive form submissions or those in regulated industries face greater risk.

1. Monitor the vendor's communications and WordPress plugin repository for an official patch or update addressing this vulnerability and apply it promptly. 2. Until a patch is available, restrict access to the export functionality by implementing web server-level access controls (e.g., IP whitelisting, authentication requirements) on the relevant plugin endpoints or URLs. 3. Disable or remove the Advanced Contact form 7 DB plugin if it is not essential or replace it with alternative plugins that have proper authorization controls. 4. Review and audit stored form data for any unauthorized access or exfiltration signs. 5. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the export function. 6. Educate site administrators about the risks of installing plugins without proper security reviews and encourage regular plugin updates and security assessments. 7. Consider limiting the amount and sensitivity of data collected via contact forms to reduce exposure in case of compromise.