CVE-2026-25023: ContestsWP Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-25023 Overview

CVE-2026-25023 is a Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability affecting the "Run Contests, Raffles, and Giveaways with ContestsWP" WordPress plugin (contest-code-checker). This vulnerability allows unauthorized attackers to retrieve embedded sensitive data from vulnerable WordPress installations running affected versions of the plugin.

The vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive system information, enabling attackers to access data that should be restricted to authorized users or internal system processes only.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can retrieve sensitive system information from WordPress sites running ContestsWP plugin versions 2.0.7 and earlier, potentially exposing contest participant data, configuration details, or other embedded sensitive information.

Affected Products

• Run Contests, Raffles, and Giveaways with ContestsWP plugin versions up to and including 2.0.7
• WordPress installations running vulnerable ContestsWP plugin versions
• Sites utilizing the contest-code-checker functionality

Discovery Timeline

• February 3, 2026 - CVE-2026-25023 published to NVD
• February 3, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25023

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-497 (Exposure of Sensitive System Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere). The ContestsWP plugin fails to properly restrict access to sensitive system information, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to retrieve embedded sensitive data through network-accessible endpoints.

The vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely with low complexity. While the impact is limited to confidentiality (no integrity or availability impact), unauthorized access to contest data, participant information, or system configuration could lead to privacy violations and potential follow-on attacks.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient access controls within the ContestsWP plugin's data handling mechanisms. The plugin exposes sensitive system information to unauthorized users due to missing or inadequate authentication checks on endpoints that handle or display contest-related data. This allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and retrieve information that should only be available to authenticated administrators or authorized participants.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft requests to vulnerable endpoints within the ContestsWP plugin to extract sensitive embedded data. The low attack complexity means that exploitation does not require specialized conditions or preparation.

The vulnerability allows attackers to retrieve embedded sensitive data by accessing unprotected plugin resources or API endpoints. For detailed technical information about the exploitation mechanism, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25023

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests targeting ContestsWP plugin endpoints or AJAX handlers
• Unexpected access to contest-related database tables or plugin directories
• Abnormal patterns of data retrieval from /wp-content/plugins/contest-code-checker/ paths
• Suspicious requests probing for plugin version information or configuration data

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to monitor and block suspicious requests to ContestsWP plugin endpoints
• Review WordPress access logs for unauthorized access attempts to plugin resources
• Monitor for reconnaissance activity targeting WordPress plugin enumeration
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for known ContestsWP exploitation patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for WordPress and the ContestsWP plugin to capture access attempts
• Configure real-time alerting for unusual data access patterns involving contest or participant information
• Regularly audit plugin directory permissions and access control configurations
• Implement file integrity monitoring on ContestsWP plugin files to detect unauthorized modifications

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25023

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the ContestsWP plugin to a patched version higher than 2.0.7 when available from the vendor
• Temporarily disable the ContestsWP plugin if it is not critical to site operations until a patch is released
• Implement web application firewall rules to restrict access to sensitive plugin endpoints
• Review and audit any sensitive data that may have been exposed through the vulnerability

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the official WordPress plugin repository and the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for patch availability. Update to the latest version of ContestsWP as soon as a security fix is released by mdedev.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin directories using .htaccess rules or server-level access controls
• Implement IP-based access restrictions to limit who can access the WordPress installation
• Use a web application firewall to filter malicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin
• Consider temporarily deactivating the plugin if contest functionality is not immediately required

# Example .htaccess rule to restrict access to plugin directory
<Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/contest-code-checker">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Directory>