CVE-2026-111833 in weForms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2026
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in Bold Grid weForms weforms allows Path Traversal.This issue affects weForms: from n/a through 1.6.28.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The identified security flaw represents a classic path traversal vulnerability within the Bold Grid weForms plugin, specifically affecting versions ranging from initial releases up to version 1.6.28. This type of vulnerability arises when an application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct file system paths. In this specific context, the flaw allows an attacker to manipulate directory traversal sequences, such as dot-dot-slash (../) patterns, to escape the intended restricted directory and access files located outside of it. This lack of rigorous boundary enforcement on pathname inputs creates a significant security gap, enabling unauthorized actors to read sensitive system files or potentially execute malicious code depending on the server configuration and available file types.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the weForms application logic. When processing form submissions or related administrative actions, the software likely concatenates user-controlled data with base directory paths without adequately checking for relative path components that could alter the intended destination. By injecting specific characters into these parameters, an attacker can redirect file operations to arbitrary locations on the server's filesystem. This behavior aligns directly with CWE-22, which defines Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The core issue is not necessarily in the code structure itself but rather in the failure to normalize or strictly whitelist allowed characters and paths before they are processed by underlying file system APIs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability can be severe, particularly for websites relying on weForms for data collection and user interaction. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, database credentials stored in plain text within the WordPress environment, or other critical application assets residing outside the web root but accessible via relative path manipulation. In worst-case scenarios where file inclusion vulnerabilities are also present due to similar coding practices, this traversal capability could facilitate remote code execution, granting full control over the compromised server. The risk is exacerbated by the widespread use of such plugins in WordPress ecosystems, making any unpatched instance a potential entry point for broader network compromise or data exfiltration attacks targeting customer information and site integrity.
To mitigate these risks, immediate action must be taken to update the weForms plugin to a version newer than 1.6.28 where this path traversal issue has been resolved through improved input sanitization and strict directory restriction enforcement. Administrators should also implement web application firewall rules that detect and block common path traversal patterns in HTTP requests targeting WordPress plugins. Additionally, adhering to secure coding standards such as those outlined by OWASP is crucial for preventing similar issues; specifically, implementing allowlists for file paths rather than relying on deny lists ensures that only explicitly approved resources are accessible. Regular security audits and penetration testing of custom or third-party plugin integrations will further help identify and remediate any lingering path manipulation weaknesses before they can be exploited in production environments.