CVE-2026-2022: Smart Forms WordPress Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2026-2022 Overview

CVE-2026-2022 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Smart Forms plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.6.99. The rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns AJAX action lacks a capability check before returning donation campaign data. Authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher can invoke the action to retrieve campaign IDs and names. The issue requires authentication but no user interaction, and it impacts confidentiality only. No public exploit code is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Critical Impact

Any authenticated WordPress user, including low-privilege Subscribers, can enumerate donation campaign data exposed by the Smart Forms plugin.

Affected Products

• WordPress Smart Forms plugin, all versions through 2.6.99
• WordPress sites using the Smart Donations integration shipped with Smart Forms
• Any WordPress deployment permitting Subscriber-level registration with the plugin active

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-14 - CVE-2026-2022 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-2022

Vulnerability Analysis

The Smart Forms plugin registers an AJAX endpoint named rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns to support its Smart Donations integration. WordPress invokes the handler through the wp_ajax_ action hook, which authenticates the request but does not perform any role or capability validation on its own. The plugin handler returns donation campaign records, including campaign IDs and names, without first checking whether the calling user holds an appropriate capability such as manage_options or an equivalent role.

The disclosure scope is limited to donation campaign metadata. The vulnerability does not allow modification of records, privilege escalation, or denial of service. However, leaked campaign identifiers can support reconnaissance for follow-on attacks against the donation workflow or related plugin functionality.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing capability check [CWE-862] inside the AJAX handler defined in smart-donations-integration-ajax.php. The function processes the request and queries campaign data without calling current_user_can() or verifying a sufficient role. WordPress' default behavior for the wp_ajax_ hook authenticates any logged-in user, so the absence of an authorization gate allows Subscriber accounts to receive the data.

Attack Vector

An attacker registers or compromises any account on the target site, including a Subscriber. The attacker then sends an authenticated POST request to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with the action parameter set to rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns. The server responds with the list of donation campaigns, exposing campaign IDs and names that were not intended for low-privilege users. The exploitation flow requires no user interaction and can be automated against any vulnerable site that allows account registration.

No verified proof-of-concept code is available. The Wordfence advisory and the plugin source files referenced under smart-forms/trunk/integration/smart-donations-integration-ajax.php describe the affected handler location.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2022

Indicators of Compromise

• POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing the parameter action=rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns originating from accounts that are not site administrators.
• Unusual access patterns from newly registered Subscriber accounts shortly after registration.
• Spikes in admin-ajax traffic with the Smart Forms action name in web server access logs.

Detection Strategies

• Parse WordPress access logs for the literal string rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns and correlate the requesting user to their assigned role.
• Deploy a WordPress security plugin or web application firewall rule that flags admin-ajax.php invocations of this action when the requester lacks manage_options.
• Audit Smart Forms plugin versions across managed WordPress estates and flag any instance at or below 2.6.99.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward WordPress access logs and authentication events to a centralized logging or SIEM platform for long-term retention and search.
• Alert on bursts of authenticated AJAX requests from accounts created within the last 24 hours.
• Monitor new user registrations on sites that do not require public sign-up, since the attack requires an authenticated session.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2022

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Smart Forms plugin to a version released after 2.6.99 that includes a capability check on the affected AJAX action.
• Disable public user registration on WordPress sites that do not require it, reducing the population of accounts able to reach the endpoint.
• Review existing Subscriber and Contributor accounts and remove any that are unused or unrecognized.

Patch Information

The vendor maintains the plugin in the WordPress.org plugin repository. Site administrators should upgrade to the latest available Smart Forms release. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report ID #381ec109 and the source files at WordPress Smart Donations Integration Code and WordPress Smart Forms Code to verify the fixed version.

Workarounds

• Deactivate the Smart Forms plugin until an updated version is installed if the donation integration is not in use.
• Apply a web application firewall rule that blocks unauthenticated and Subscriber-level requests to admin-ajax.php with action=rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns.
• Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php from untrusted networks for high-value sites where feasible.

# Example WAF/nginx rule to block the vulnerable AJAX action
if ($arg_action = "rednao_smart_forms_get_campaigns") {
    return 403;
}