CVE-2021-4417 in Forminator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
The Forminator – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.13.4. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the listen_for_saving_export_schedule() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to export form submissions via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The Forminator plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool for creating contact forms, payment forms, and custom form builders across thousands of websites. This particular vulnerability exists within version 1.13.4 and earlier releases, making it a significant concern for WordPress administrators who rely on this plugin for their site functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's codebase, specifically in how it handles form submission export operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the listen_for_saving_export_schedule() function which fails to properly validate nonces. Nonces serve as critical security tokens that verify the authenticity of requests in WordPress systems, ensuring that actions are performed intentionally by authorized users. Without proper nonce validation, attackers can construct malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system, bypassing the normal authentication and authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
This Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability operates under the premise that an attacker can trick a site administrator into performing unintended actions through social engineering techniques. The attacker typically needs to convince the administrator to click on a malicious link or visit a compromised website while logged into their WordPress admin panel. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows unauthenticated attackers to export form submissions, potentially accessing sensitive user data including personal information, contact details, payment information, and other confidential data submitted through forms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential for further exploitation within the WordPress ecosystem. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain access to large volumes of user data, potentially including personally identifiable information that may violate privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the WordPress administrator and the Forminator plugin, making it particularly insidious since administrators are often unaware they are performing malicious actions.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which involves data from information repositories, as attackers can extract sensitive form data through this method. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version, which should contain proper nonce validation, and reviewing existing form submission exports for potential unauthorized access. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual export activities, and administrators should be educated about social engineering techniques that could be used to exploit this vulnerability.
The broader implications of this vulnerability demonstrate the critical importance of proper input validation and security token implementation in WordPress plugins. This issue underscores the need for regular security audits of third-party plugins, as many security vulnerabilities in WordPress environments stem from poorly secured plugins rather than core WordPress functionality. System administrators should establish robust plugin update procedures and maintain awareness of security advisories from WordPress.org and other trusted sources to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities.