CVE-2025-7341: HT Contact Form WordPress Plugin RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-7341 Overview

CVE-2025-7341 is a critical arbitrary file deletion vulnerability affecting the HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks & Form Builder plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient file path validation in the temp_file_delete() function, allowing unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server. This can lead to remote code execution when critical files such as wp-config.php are deleted.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can delete arbitrary files on vulnerable WordPress installations, potentially leading to complete site compromise through remote code execution.

Affected Products

• HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks versions up to and including 2.2.1
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-15 - CVE-2025-7341 published to NVD
• 2025-07-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7341

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the temp_file_delete() function within the plugin's Ajax handling code. The function fails to properly validate and sanitize file paths before performing deletion operations. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests containing path traversal sequences to target files outside the intended temporary directory.

When exploited, an attacker can delete any file accessible to the web server user, including WordPress core configuration files. The deletion of wp-config.php is particularly dangerous as it forces WordPress into installation mode, allowing an attacker to reconfigure the site with their own database credentials and gain administrative access.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) as the function performs privileged file operations without proper access controls or authentication checks.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input validation and path sanitization in the temp_file_delete() function located in the plugin's Ajax.php file. The function accepts user-supplied file path parameters without verifying that the target file is within the expected temporary upload directory. This allows directory traversal attacks using sequences like ../ to escape the intended directory scope.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request to the plugin's AJAX endpoint, specifying a file path that traverses outside the temporary directory to target critical system files.

The attack flow involves:

1. Identifying a WordPress installation with the vulnerable plugin version
2. Crafting an AJAX request to the temp_file_delete endpoint
3. Including a malicious file path with directory traversal sequences targeting critical files
4. The server deletes the specified file without proper validation
5. If wp-config.php is deleted, the attacker can then access the WordPress installation wizard to take over the site

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

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7341

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected deletion of wp-config.php or other critical WordPress files
• Web server error logs showing access to AJAX endpoints with directory traversal patterns (../)
• WordPress site suddenly entering installation/setup mode
• Unusual POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing file deletion actions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web server access logs for requests to admin-ajax.php containing path traversal sequences
• Implement file integrity monitoring for critical WordPress files including wp-config.php, .htaccess, and wp-includes/ directory
• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing ../ in parameter values
• Enable WordPress audit logging to track file system operations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Set up alerts for any modifications or deletions to wp-config.php and core WordPress files
• Monitor for new WordPress installations or database reconfigurations
• Track AJAX requests to the HT Contact Form plugin endpoints for anomalous patterns
• Review web server logs regularly for indicators of exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7341

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• If immediate update is not possible, disable or remove the plugin until patching is complete
• Implement file system permissions to restrict web server write/delete access to critical files
• Deploy WAF rules to block directory traversal attempts

Patch Information

The vendor has released a security patch addressing this vulnerability. The fix can be reviewed in the WordPress Plugin Ajax Changeset. Users should update to a version newer than 2.2.1 to receive the security fix.

Workarounds

• Remove or deactivate the HT Contact Form Widget plugin if not immediately needed
• Implement server-level file permissions to protect critical WordPress configuration files from deletion
• Deploy mod_security or similar WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns
• Consider using WordPress security plugins that provide file integrity monitoring and real-time protection

# Protect wp-config.php from deletion via file permissions
chmod 440 wp-config.php
chown root:www-data wp-config.php

# Add .htaccess rule to block path traversal attempts
echo '<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (\.\./|\.\.%2f) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>' >> .htaccess