Cyber Resilience

CVE-2020-35489

Rocklobster Contact Form 7 ≤ 5.3.2

High EPSS
Published
17 December 2020
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 10.0
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.90 99.8th percentile
Risk Priority 100 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2020-35489 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Rocklobster Contact Form 7. Its CVSS base score is 10.0 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

The contact-form-7 (aka Contact Form 7) plugin before 5.3.2 for WordPress allows Unrestricted File Upload and remote code execution because a filename may contain special characters.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Controlconfidence: HIGH
Unrestricted file upload allows an attacker to upload a malicious file (e.g., PHP webshell) to the server.
T1505.003 Web Shell Persistenceconfidence: HIGH
Uploaded malicious file can function as a web shell, enabling persistent remote code execution via the web server.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Executionconfidence: MEDIUM
Successful upload of executable code facilitates arbitrary command execution on the compromised server.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-6449Same product: Rocklobster Contact Form 7
CVE-2025-3247Same product: Rocklobster Contact Form 7
CVE-2024-4704Same product: Rocklobster Contact Form 7
CVE-2023-6630Same product: Rocklobster Contact Form 7
CVE-2024-2242Same product: Rocklobster Contact Form 7
CVE-2023-40609Same product class: WordPress / CMS plugin
CVE-2023-6090Same product class: WordPress / CMS plugin
CVE-2023-5957Same product class: WordPress / CMS plugin
CVE-2024-13359Same product class: WordPress / CMS plugin
CVE-2024-22135Same product class: WordPress / CMS plugin

Affected Assets

rocklobster
contact form 7
≤ 5.3.2

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.1.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-434

Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.

addresses: CWE-434

Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.

addresses: CWE-434

Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.

addresses: CWE-434

Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-05 mostly match
prevents

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.

prevents

Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.

prevents

Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.

mitigates

Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.

References