CVE-2025-13136 Overview
CVE-2025-13136 affects the GSheetConnector For Ninja Forms plugin for WordPress. The plugin fails to enforce a capability check on the njform-google-sheet-config configuration page. Authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher can reach the page and retrieve system information intended for administrators. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 2.0.1. The weakness is categorized as Missing Authorization [CWE-862].
Critical Impact
Low-privileged WordPress users can access plugin configuration data and system information that should be restricted to administrators.
Affected Products
- GSheetConnector For Ninja Forms plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 2.0.1
- WordPress sites allowing Subscriber-level registration
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-22 - CVE-2025-13136 published to NVD
- 2026-10-18 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-13136
Vulnerability Analysis
The GSheetConnector For Ninja Forms plugin exposes a configuration page registered under the slug njform-google-sheet-config. The handler servicing requests to this page does not verify whether the requesting user holds the required WordPress capability. As a result, any authenticated session with at least Subscriber privileges can load the page and read the data it returns.
The disclosed information relates to the plugin's configuration state and the underlying system environment. While the vulnerability does not allow modification of data or impact availability, it provides reconnaissance value to an attacker preparing follow-on activity against the WordPress instance.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization check [CWE-862] on an administrative page handler. WordPress plugins must call current_user_can() with an appropriate capability such as manage_options before serving administrative content. The vulnerable handler omits this validation, treating authentication as sufficient authorization.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Subscriber level or higher. WordPress sites that permit open user registration present the lowest barrier to abuse. The attacker issues a request to the admin page corresponding to the njform-google-sheet-config slug and receives configuration or system data in the response. No user interaction from an administrator is required.
The vulnerability manifests in the plugin's admin page registration logic. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin Changeset for the specific code change.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2025-13136
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests to /wp-admin/admin.php?page=njform-google-sheet-config originating from accounts without administrative roles.
- Unexpected HTTP 200 responses to the plugin configuration endpoint from Subscriber or Contributor sessions.
- New WordPress account registrations followed shortly by access to plugin admin pages.
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress access logs for the njform-google-sheet-config page slug and correlate requests against the role of the authenticated user.
- Enable WordPress audit logging plugins to capture admin page access events along with user capabilities.
- Alert on authenticated low-privilege sessions that enumerate multiple /wp-admin/ pages in short succession.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor web server logs for anomalous access patterns to plugin configuration endpoints by non-administrative users.
- Track newly created Subscriber accounts and flag any that subsequently access /wp-admin/admin.php with plugin-specific page= parameters.
- Forward WordPress authentication and admin-area telemetry to a centralized logging platform for retention and correlation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13136
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the GSheetConnector For Ninja Forms plugin to a version later than 2.0.1 as soon as the vendor publishes a fixed release.
- Audit WordPress user accounts and remove unused Subscriber-level or higher accounts.
- Disable open user registration on sites that do not require it by unchecking Anyone can register under WordPress general settings.
Patch Information
The fix is tracked in the WordPress plugin repository. Review the WordPress Plugin Changeset for the committed change that adds the missing capability check. Confirm the installed plugin version against the latest release listed on the WordPress.org plugin page.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the GSheetConnector For Ninja Forms plugin until a patched version is installed.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ using web server rules or a WordPress firewall for all non-administrative roles.
- Enforce strong password policies and multi-factor authentication on all WordPress accounts to limit account takeover risk.
# Example Apache rule restricting admin.php access to specific IPs
<Files "admin.php">
Require ip 203.0.113.0/24
</Files>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
