CVE-2026-0825 in Database for Contact Form 7, WPforms, Elementor Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2026
The Database for Contact Form 7, WPforms, Elementor forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to missing capability checks on the CSV export functionality in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.5. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download sensitive form submission data containing personally identifiable information (PII) by accessing the CSV export endpoint with an export key that is exposed in publicly accessible page source code. The vulnerability is created because while the shortcode properly filters displayed entries by user, the CSV export handler completely bypasses this filtering and exports all entries regardless of user permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-0825 affects popular WordPress form plugins including Contact Form 7, WPforms, and Elementor forms, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that compromises sensitive data confidentiality. This vulnerability stems from inadequate capability checks within the CSV export functionality of these plugins, specifically in versions up to and including 1.4.5. The flaw creates a scenario where unauthenticated attackers can exploit exposed export keys found within publicly accessible page source code to download comprehensive form submission datasets containing personally identifiable information. The security weakness manifests through a fundamental design flaw where the plugin's shortcode implementation correctly applies user-based filtering for displayed entries, yet the CSV export handler completely ignores these permission controls and exports all available submissions without any access restrictions. This discrepancy between the frontend display logic and backend export functionality creates an exploitable gap that directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass serious privacy and compliance implications for organizations using affected WordPress plugins. Attackers can systematically harvest sensitive form data including personal identification numbers, contact information, and other PII without requiring authentication credentials, potentially leading to identity theft, fraud, or regulatory violations under data protection frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill as it relies on publicly accessible information and does not require advanced penetration testing techniques, making it particularly dangerous for widespread impact. The exposed export keys in page source code represent a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability, where the system fails to properly validate access permissions before executing privileged operations. This flaw directly maps to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through data from information repositories.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their sensitive data. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to patched versions of the affected plugins, which should include proper capability checks and validation of user permissions before executing CSV export operations. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough audits of their WordPress installations to identify and remove any exposed export keys from page source code, implementing proper access control mechanisms that ensure only authorized users can access sensitive data exports. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious access patterns to known export endpoints, while regular security scanning should be employed to detect similar vulnerabilities across the entire WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly for plugins that handle sensitive user data and provide export functionality. Organizations must also review their data protection policies and ensure compliance with relevant regulations, as unauthorized access to PII through this vulnerability could result in significant legal and financial consequences. Implementing proper logging and monitoring of export activities will help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide evidence for incident response procedures.