CVE-2026-24610 Overview
CVE-2026-24610 is a broken access control vulnerability in the MetForm Pro plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 3.9.1. The flaw allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges to perform actions reserved for higher-privileged roles. The underlying weakness is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization, indicating the plugin fails to enforce proper authorization checks on protected functions.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with minimal Subscriber privileges can bypass access control restrictions and modify data outside their intended permission scope, impacting form data integrity on affected WordPress sites.
Affected Products
- MetForm Pro WordPress plugin versions <= 3.9.1
- WordPress sites running the MetForm Pro plugin with Subscriber-level user registration enabled
- All deployments of MetForm Pro prior to the patched release
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-17 - CVE-2026-24610 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-24610
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the MetForm Pro plugin, a form builder extension for WordPress. The plugin exposes one or more action handlers that do not validate the capability of the requesting user. Authenticated users assigned the Subscriber role, the lowest standard WordPress role, can invoke these handlers and trigger operations that should be restricted to administrators or editors.
The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) data indicates a low near-term exploitation probability based on current telemetry. However, broken access control flaws in WordPress plugins are routinely weaponized once disclosed, particularly on sites that allow open user registration.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization check, mapped to [CWE-862]. Affected endpoints in MetForm Pro accept requests from any authenticated user without verifying that the user holds the capability required for the requested action. WordPress plugins typically enforce authorization through current_user_can() checks combined with nonce validation. The absence of these checks on protected handlers permits Subscriber-level callers to reach privileged functionality.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the target WordPress site and a valid Subscriber-or-higher account. On sites with open registration, an attacker registers a free account and authenticates. The attacker then issues HTTP requests to the vulnerable MetForm Pro action endpoint with parameters chosen to alter form behavior or data. No user interaction from an administrator is required. The CVSS vector confirms the impact is limited to integrity, with no direct effect on confidentiality or availability.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code is currently published. Technical detail is available from the Patchstack MetForm Pro Vulnerability advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24610
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to MetForm Pro form configurations, submissions, or settings performed by users holding the Subscriber role.
- HTTP POST or AJAX requests to MetForm Pro admin-ajax.php actions originating from accounts that should not have plugin management privileges.
- Newly registered Subscriber accounts immediately followed by requests to plugin-controlled endpoints.
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress access logs for requests to MetForm Pro action handlers correlated with low-privilege user sessions.
- Audit the WordPress user table for recently created Subscriber accounts and inspect their request history.
- Compare current MetForm Pro form definitions against known-good backups to identify unauthorized changes.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress web server and application logs to a centralized analytics platform for behavioral baselining of plugin endpoints.
- Alert on any non-administrator role invoking plugin AJAX actions associated with MetForm Pro.
- Track plugin version inventory across hosted WordPress sites to identify hosts still running MetForm Pro <= 3.9.1.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24610
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade MetForm Pro to a version later than 3.9.1 as soon as the vendor releases a fixed build.
- Audit existing WordPress user accounts and remove Subscriber accounts that are not required for site operation.
- Disable open user registration on WordPress sites that do not require self-service signup.
Patch Information
Review the Patchstack MetForm Pro Vulnerability advisory for the patched version reference. Apply the upgrade through the WordPress plugin dashboard or via WP-CLI, then verify the installed version matches the fixed release.
Workarounds
- Use a web application firewall (WAF) rule to block requests to MetForm Pro action endpoints originating from sessions tied to the Subscriber role.
- Temporarily restrict the Subscriber role using a capability management plugin to prevent access to plugin AJAX actions.
- If immediate patching is not possible, deactivate the MetForm Pro plugin until the upgrade can be applied.
# Configuration example: upgrade MetForm Pro via WP-CLI
wp plugin update metform-pro --version=latest
wp plugin get metform-pro --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
