CVE-2025-29000: Contact Form Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-29000 Overview

CVE-2025-29000 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) affecting the Multi-language Responsive Contact Form WordPress plugin developed by August Infotech. This broken access control flaw allows attackers to access functionality that is not properly constrained by Access Control Lists (ACLs), potentially enabling unauthorized users to perform privileged operations within the plugin.

Critical Impact

Unauthorized users can bypass access controls to interact with plugin functionality intended for authenticated or privileged users only, potentially compromising form data integrity and site administration features.

Affected Products

• Multi-language Responsive Contact Form plugin (responsive-contact-form) version 2.8 and earlier
• WordPress sites using the vulnerable plugin versions
• All installations without proper authorization enforcement

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-16 - CVE-2025-29000 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-29000

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks in the Multi-language Responsive Contact Form WordPress plugin. The plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before allowing access to certain functionality, creating a broken access control condition. When authorization checks are absent, unauthenticated or low-privileged users can invoke administrative functions or access protected resources without proper credentials.

WordPress plugins are expected to implement capability checks using functions like current_user_can() before executing privileged operations. The absence of these checks in responsive-contact-form versions through 2.8 means that AJAX handlers, form processing endpoints, or administrative functions may be accessible to any visitor.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of proper authorization validation (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) in plugin endpoints. The plugin does not verify that the requesting user has the appropriate WordPress capabilities before processing sensitive requests. This is a common vulnerability pattern in WordPress plugins where developers implement functionality without implementing the corresponding access control layer.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by directly accessing unprotected plugin endpoints or AJAX actions. Since the plugin fails to enforce proper authorization, attackers can craft HTTP requests to invoke functionality that should require administrative privileges. This could include accessing form submission data, modifying plugin settings, or manipulating contact form configurations.

The attack requires network access to the WordPress installation but does not require any authentication, making it exploitable by remote unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability allows accessing functionality not properly constrained by ACLs, which could lead to data exposure or configuration manipulation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-29000

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected access to WordPress admin AJAX endpoints from unauthenticated sessions
• Unusual HTTP requests to admin-ajax.php referencing responsive-contact-form actions
• Unauthorized modifications to contact form settings or configurations
• Access logs showing direct requests to plugin-specific endpoints without session cookies

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress admin-ajax.php requests for plugin-related actions from unauthenticated users
• Review web server access logs for unusual patterns targeting the responsive-contact-form plugin
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect unauthorized access attempts
• Use WordPress security plugins to audit plugin behavior and access control enforcement

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all AJAX actions within WordPress
• Configure alerts for failed authorization attempts or suspicious access patterns
• Regularly audit plugin permissions and capability requirements
• Monitor for any unauthorized changes to plugin settings or form data

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29000

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Multi-language Responsive Contact Form plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• Review and audit all plugin settings for unauthorized modifications
• Temporarily disable the plugin if no patch is available until a secure version is released
• Implement WAF rules to restrict access to plugin-specific AJAX actions

Patch Information

Administrators should check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest information on available patches and remediation guidance. Update the plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard once a patched version becomes available. All versions through 2.8 are confirmed vulnerable.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to admin-ajax.php for unauthenticated users where feasible
• Implement server-level access controls to limit plugin endpoint exposure
• Use a WordPress security plugin with virtual patching capabilities
• Consider temporarily deactivating the plugin until a secure version is available

# Example: Restrict access to plugin endpoints via .htaccess
<Files "admin-ajax.php">
    <RequireAll>
        Require all granted
        # Add IP-based restrictions or authentication requirements
    </RequireAll>
</Files>