CVE-2026-25339: WPForms Data Disclosure Vulnerability

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