CVE-2026-48835 Overview
CVE-2026-48835 is a broken access control vulnerability in the Contact Form by WPForms WordPress plugin. The flaw affects WPForms Lite versions up to and including 1.10.0.4. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to perform actions that should require authentication or higher privileges. The issue is categorized under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. WordPress sites running vulnerable WPForms installations face integrity risks to their form data and configurations.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit broken access control over the network to modify protected resources without user interaction or credentials.
Affected Products
- Contact Form by WPForms (WPForms Lite) plugin for WordPress
- WPForms Lite versions <= 1.10.0.4
- WordPress installations with the vulnerable plugin enabled
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-15 - CVE CVE-2026-48835 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-48835
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks within the WPForms Lite plugin. Plugin endpoints fail to validate whether the requesting user has the necessary permissions before executing privileged operations. Attackers can reach these endpoints over the network without authenticating to the WordPress site.
The impact targets data integrity rather than confidentiality or availability. An attacker can manipulate plugin-controlled resources or perform actions intended for authorized roles. No user interaction is required, and the attack complexity is low. The EPSS probability is 0.305% at the 21.99 percentile, indicating limited current exploitation likelihood.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper enforcement of capability checks on plugin actions. WordPress plugins must verify nonces and call current_user_can() or equivalent capability functions before executing sensitive operations. WPForms Lite versions <= 1.10.0.4 omit or insufficiently apply these checks on one or more handlers, exposing functionality intended for authenticated administrators.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An attacker sends crafted HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable plugin endpoints exposed by the WordPress site. Because authorization is missing, the server processes the request without confirming the caller's role or capabilities. The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the Patchstack WPForms Lite Vulnerability advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48835
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to WPForms forms, entries, or plugin settings in the WordPress database
- HTTP requests to admin-ajax.php or WPForms REST routes originating from unauthenticated sessions
- New or modified form configurations created outside of normal administrator activity windows
Detection Strategies
- Audit WordPress access logs for POST requests targeting WPForms action handlers without an authenticated session cookie
- Compare plugin file integrity and database form records against known-good baselines
- Review wp_options and WPForms-specific tables for changes correlating with anomalous request patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the WordPress web server and forward to a centralized log platform
- Alert on bursts of requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php referencing WPForms actions from unauthenticated IPs
- Track plugin version inventory across all WordPress instances to identify exposed sites
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48835
Immediate Actions Required
- Update WPForms Lite to a version above 1.10.0.4 as soon as a fixed release is available
- Inventory all WordPress sites running WPForms Lite and prioritize internet-facing instances
- Restrict administrative endpoints behind a web application firewall while patching is in progress
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack WPForms Lite Vulnerability advisory for the latest fixed version guidance. Apply the vendor-supplied update through the WordPress plugin manager or WP-CLI once available.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the WPForms Lite plugin on affected sites until a patched version is installed
- Apply virtual patching rules at the WAF layer to block unauthenticated requests to WPForms action handlers
- Limit access to /wp-admin/ and AJAX endpoints by IP allowlisting where operationally feasible
# Update WPForms Lite using WP-CLI once a fixed version is published
wp plugin update wpforms-lite
wp plugin list --name=wpforms-lite --fields=name,status,version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
