CVE-2026-25339 Overview
CVE-2026-25339 is a Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability affecting the Contact Form by WPForms plugin (wpforms-lite) for WordPress. This vulnerability involves the insertion of sensitive information into sent data, which could allow authenticated attackers to retrieve embedded sensitive data from form submissions.
WPForms is one of the most popular contact form plugins for WordPress, making this vulnerability significant due to its widespread deployment across millions of websites. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive information within the plugin's data transmission mechanisms.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability to retrieve sensitive data embedded in form submissions, potentially exposing user personal information, credentials, or other confidential data submitted through WPForms.
Affected Products
- Contact Form by WPForms (wpforms-lite) versions up to and including 1.9.8.7
- WordPress installations using vulnerable WPForms Lite versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-25 - CVE CVE-2026-25339 published to NVD
- 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-25339
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-201 (Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data). The core issue lies in how the WPForms Lite plugin handles and transmits form data, inadvertently exposing sensitive information to unauthorized parties with authenticated access to the WordPress system.
The vulnerability requires network access and authenticated user privileges to exploit. While it does not require user interaction, the attacker must have some level of authenticated access to the WordPress installation. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with the potential for complete disclosure of sensitive form submission data.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper data handling within the WPForms Lite plugin. Sensitive information submitted through contact forms is being inserted into data transmissions in a way that allows authenticated users with lower privilege levels to access this information. This represents a failure in proper access control and data segregation within the plugin's architecture.
The plugin does not adequately sanitize or protect sensitive form field data before including it in responses or data structures accessible to authenticated users who should not have permission to view such information.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for CVE-2026-25339 is network-based, requiring authenticated access to the WordPress installation. An attacker would need valid credentials with at least low-level privileges on the target WordPress site.
Once authenticated, the attacker can leverage the vulnerability to retrieve sensitive data embedded within form submissions. This could include personal identifiable information (PII), contact details, passwords inadvertently submitted in form fields, or any other sensitive data users have submitted through WPForms.
The vulnerability exploitation does not require any specific user interaction beyond the attacker's own authenticated session, making it relatively straightforward to exploit once the prerequisite access is obtained.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25339
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual database queries targeting WPForms submission tables from low-privilege user sessions
- Unexpected access patterns to form submission data by non-administrative users
- Anomalous API calls or requests to WPForms-related endpoints from authenticated sessions
- Log entries showing form data retrieval by users without appropriate permissions
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress access logs for suspicious patterns of form data access by non-administrative users
- Implement database query monitoring to detect unauthorized SELECT operations on form submission tables
- Review user activity logs for unusual access to WPForms settings or submission data
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to monitor and alert on sensitive data exposure patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable comprehensive audit logging for all WordPress user activities, particularly around form plugin interactions
- Configure alerts for any form submission data access by users below administrator privilege level
- Monitor for bulk data retrieval attempts that may indicate data exfiltration
- Regularly review plugin access permissions and ensure principle of least privilege is enforced
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25339
Immediate Actions Required
- Update WPForms Lite to the latest version beyond 1.9.8.7 immediately
- Audit all user accounts with access to the WordPress installation and remove unnecessary privileges
- Review form submission logs for any signs of unauthorized access
- Consider temporarily disabling WPForms if an immediate update is not possible
Patch Information
The vulnerability affects Contact Form by WPForms (wpforms-lite) versions through 1.9.8.7. Users should update to the latest patched version available through the WordPress plugin repository. For detailed vulnerability information, refer to the Patchstack security advisory.
Organizations using the premium WPForms version should also verify they are running a patched release.
Workarounds
- Restrict WordPress user accounts to only essential personnel and remove unnecessary authenticated access
- Implement additional access controls at the server level to limit who can access WPForms data
- Consider using a web application firewall (WAF) to monitor and block suspicious data access patterns
- Temporarily disable the WPForms Lite plugin if updating is not immediately possible and forms are not critical to operations
- Enable WordPress security plugins with user activity monitoring capabilities to detect potential exploitation attempts
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
