CVE-2023-6449: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

Contact Form 7, a WordPress plugin with over 5 million installations, was found to contain a vulnerability (CVE-2023-6449) with a CVSS score of 6.6. The vulnerability was discovered in late 2023 and affects versions prior to 5.8.4. The security flaw is related to insufficient file type validation and blocklisting mechanisms within the plugin (SecurityOnline).

The vulnerability stems from insufficient file type validation and blocklisting mechanisms within the Contact Form 7 plugin. This security flaw allows authenticated attackers with editor-level privileges to upload arbitrary files to affected websites. While uploaded files are typically deleted immediately due to htaccess configuration, certain plugins may inadvertently extend their lifespan on the server (SecurityOnline).

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the website or execute malicious code. In scenarios where uploaded files remain on the server, attackers could potentially leverage local file inclusion vulnerabilities to gain remote code execution capabilities, effectively granting them complete control over the compromised website (SecurityOnline).

The primary mitigation is to upgrade Contact Form 7 to version 5.8.4 or later. Additional security measures recommended include maintaining regular plugin updates, enforcing strong password policies, implementing regular vulnerability scanning, and using a Web Application Firewall (WAF). It is strongly recommended to stop using the 'Redirection for Contact Form 7' (wpcf7-redirect) plugin due to its security implications (SecurityOnline, Contact Form 7).