CVE-2025-14457: WordPress Drag & Drop Upload Auth Bypass

CVE-2025-14457 Overview

The Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress contains an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary uploaded files. The vulnerability exists in the dnd_codedropz_upload_delete() function due to a missing ownership check, enabling unauthorized data modification when the "Send attachments as links" setting is enabled.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can delete arbitrary uploaded files on affected WordPress sites, potentially causing data loss and disruption of website functionality.

Affected Products

Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 plugin versions up to and including 1.3.9.2
WordPress sites with the "Send attachments as links" setting enabled
All installations using vulnerable versions of the plugin

Discovery Timeline

2026-01-15 - CVE CVE-2025-14457 published to NVD
2026-01-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14457

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), representing a broken access control flaw in the WordPress plugin's file deletion functionality. The dnd_codedropz_upload_delete() function fails to verify whether the requesting user has legitimate ownership or permission to delete the targeted file.

The attack requires network access but has high complexity due to the prerequisite that the "Send attachments as links" setting must be enabled on the target WordPress installation. While the vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or availability directly, it allows unauthorized modification of data through arbitrary file deletion.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of an ownership verification mechanism in the file deletion function. The dnd_codedropz_upload_delete() function processes deletion requests without validating that the requester has the authority to delete the specified file. This is a classic example of improper access control where the application assumes that reaching the deletion endpoint implies authorization.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed over the network without requiring authentication credentials. An attacker can craft malicious requests to the file deletion endpoint to remove uploaded files. The attack is conditional on the target site having the "Send attachments as links" feature enabled, which increases the attack complexity.

The exploitation flow involves:

Identifying a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of the plugin
Confirming the "Send attachments as links" setting is enabled
Sending crafted requests to the dnd_codedropz_upload_delete() endpoint
Specifying target file identifiers to trigger unauthorized deletion

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, see the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin Changeset for the security fix.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14457

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected file deletion events in WordPress upload directories
Anomalous HTTP requests targeting the plugin's file deletion endpoints
Missing attachment files reported by users or form submissions
Unusual activity patterns in web server access logs related to Contact Form 7 file operations

Detection Strategies

Monitor WordPress upload directory for unexpected file deletions using file integrity monitoring
Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests to plugin endpoints
Review web server logs for unauthenticated requests to the dnd_codedropz_upload_delete function
Set up alerts for bulk or rapid file deletion activity

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed logging for the Contact Form 7 plugin and associated file operations
Configure WordPress audit logging to track file system changes
Implement real-time monitoring of the wp-content/uploads directory for deletion events
Use SentinelOne Singularity to monitor endpoint activity and detect anomalous file operations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14457

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 plugin to the latest patched version immediately
Temporarily disable the "Send attachments as links" setting if unable to update immediately
Review recent file deletion activity to identify potential exploitation
Consider temporarily deactivating the plugin until patching is complete

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in versions after 1.3.9.2. The security fix adds proper ownership validation to the dnd_codedropz_upload_delete() function. Administrators should update to the latest version available in the WordPress plugin repository. The patch details can be reviewed at the WordPress Plugin Changeset.

Workarounds

Disable the "Send attachments as links" setting in the plugin configuration to prevent exploitation
Implement web application firewall rules to block unauthenticated requests to vulnerable endpoints
Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin endpoints via IP allowlisting where feasible
Regularly backup uploaded files to enable recovery in case of unauthorized deletion

bash

# Configuration example
# Disable "Send attachments as links" via wp-config.php or plugin settings
# Navigate to Contact Form 7 settings and uncheck "Send attachments as links"

# Add .htaccess rules to restrict access to upload deletion endpoints
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} POST
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} dnd_codedropz_upload_delete
    RewriteCond %{HTTP:Authorization} ^$
    RewriteRule ^ - [F,L]
</IfModule>