CVE-2025-7340: HT Contact Form Elementor Widget RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-7340 Overview

The HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks & Form Builder plugin for WordPress contains a critical arbitrary file upload vulnerability due to missing file type validation in the temp_file_upload function. This vulnerability affects all versions up to, and including, 2.2.1, allowing unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files to the affected site's server, potentially leading to remote code execution.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability to upload malicious files (such as PHP web shells) to WordPress servers, enabling complete site takeover and remote code execution without any authentication requirements.

Affected Products

• HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks versions up to 2.2.1
• WordPress sites using the vulnerable plugin from HasThemes
• Sites with the ht-contactform plugin installed and active

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-15 - CVE-2025-7340 published to NVD
• 2025-07-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7340

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type). The temp_file_upload function within the plugin's FileManager.php service fails to properly validate file types before accepting uploads. This design flaw allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions and upload files with dangerous extensions, such as .php, .phtml, or other executable file types.

The impact of this vulnerability is severe as it requires no authentication to exploit. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request targeting the vulnerable upload endpoint to place arbitrary files on the server's filesystem. Once a malicious PHP file is uploaded, the attacker can execute it by directly accessing its URL, gaining server-side code execution capabilities.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the temp_file_upload function located in admin/Includes/Services/FileManager.php. The function lacks proper file type validation, allowing any file extension to be uploaded regardless of its potential danger. Secure file upload implementations should employ allowlist-based validation of file extensions, MIME type verification, and content inspection to prevent malicious file uploads.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and can be executed remotely without any user interaction or authentication. An attacker identifies a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of the HT Contact Form Widget plugin and sends a crafted HTTP POST request to the temp_file_upload endpoint. The request includes a malicious file (such as a PHP web shell) disguised or directly named with an executable extension. Due to missing validation, the server accepts and stores the file in an accessible location, allowing the attacker to trigger execution by navigating to the uploaded file's URL.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7340

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected PHP files or other executable scripts appearing in WordPress upload directories or temporary file storage locations
• HTTP POST requests to endpoints associated with temp_file_upload containing suspicious file payloads
• Web server access logs showing direct access to recently uploaded files with executable extensions
• Unusual outbound network connections from the web server process indicating potential web shell activity

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system changes in WordPress directories for newly created files with executable extensions (.php, .phtml, .php5, etc.)
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to inspect file upload requests and block uploads with dangerous file types
• Review web server access logs for patterns consistent with web shell deployment and access
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions like SentinelOne to identify and block malicious file execution attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable real-time file integrity monitoring on WordPress installations to detect unauthorized file additions
• Configure alerting on HTTP requests to the vulnerable temp_file_upload endpoint with file attachments
• Monitor web server processes for suspicious child processes or command execution patterns
• Implement centralized logging to correlate file upload events with subsequent access attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7340

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks plugin to a patched version immediately
• Audit WordPress upload directories and temporary file locations for any suspicious or unfamiliar files
• Review web server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint
• Consider temporarily disabling the plugin if an update is not immediately available

Patch Information

HasThemes has released a security update addressing this vulnerability. The patch introduces proper file type validation in the FileManager.php service. Administrators should update to the latest version of the plugin through the WordPress plugin repository. The specific code changes can be reviewed in the WordPress Plugin Changeset Update.

For additional technical details, refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin FileManager Code.

Workarounds

• Temporarily deactivate and remove the HT Contact Form Widget plugin until a patch can be applied
• Implement server-level file upload restrictions to block dangerous file extensions at the web server configuration level
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to filter file upload requests containing executable file types
• Restrict write permissions on WordPress directories to minimize the impact of successful exploitation attempts