CVE-2026-118437 in BuddyForms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2026
The BuddyForms WordPress plugin before 2.10.1 does not properly verify ownership before deleting guest-uploaded attachments, allowing unauthenticated attackers to permanently delete media files uploaded by other unauthenticated visitors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2026
The vulnerability identified in the BuddyForms WordPress plugin prior to version 2.10.1 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms specifically affecting file management operations. This flaw stems from an insufficient verification of resource ownership during the deletion process for guest-uploaded attachments. In typical web application architectures, particularly those involving user-generated content such as forms and media uploads, it is imperative that any destructive operation on a specific data object be strictly bound to the identity or session context of the entity that created or owns that object. The absence of this validation allows an attacker who does not possess valid administrative credentials or even authenticated user status to target arbitrary files within the system's upload directory. By manipulating the parameters sent during the deletion request, specifically targeting the unique identifier associated with a guest-uploaded file, an external actor can bypass standard security checks that are designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to data assets.
From a technical perspective, this issue is classified under CWE-284, which denotes Improper Access Control, and more specifically aligns with CWE-653, or Insufficient Privilege Isolation. The core of the vulnerability lies in the server-side logic that processes deletion requests without cross-referencing the requester's identity against the metadata associated with the target file. In many WordPress plugins, guest uploads are often stored with temporary identifiers or session-based tokens to manage their lifecycle. If the plugin fails to validate that the current request originates from a context authorized to delete the specific attachment ID provided in the HTTP payload, it creates an open door for unauthorized deletion. This lack of server-side enforcement means that any individual who can discover or guess the identifier of another user's uploaded file can initiate its removal without triggering authentication prompts or authorization errors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe regarding data integrity and availability. Since the flaw permits unauthenticated actors to permanently delete media files, it directly compromises the confidentiality and reliability of information collected through BuddyForms submissions. For organizations relying on these forms for lead generation, customer feedback, or transactional records, the loss of attached documents such as invoices, identification proofs, or project specifications can result in significant business disruption and potential regulatory non-compliance depending on the nature of the data involved. Furthermore, this capability could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt ongoing processes that depend on specific files being present, effectively creating a denial-of-service condition for legitimate users who expect their uploaded content to persist until explicitly removed by them or an administrator.
This type of vulnerability is often exploited in conjunction with other attacks to degrade the trustworthiness of a web application's data layer. In terms of offensive security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this behavior maps closely to techniques involving Data Destruction and potentially T1485, which covers Data Erasure on local systems or cloud storage instances within an enterprise environment. While the immediate effect is limited to file deletion rather than system-wide compromise, it serves as a potent tool for malicious actors aiming to cause reputational damage or operational paralysis without needing higher-level access privileges. The ability to delete files unauthenticated also implies that attackers might use this vector to cover their tracks after other probing activities if they had previously uploaded malicious payloads for testing purposes.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize the immediate application of vendor-provided patches, as version 2.10.1 and later address these access control deficiencies by implementing strict ownership verification before processing deletion requests. Until an update can be applied, administrators should consider restricting public write access to the upload directories if feasible through web server configuration rules such as those in Apache or Nginx, although this may impact legitimate guest functionality. Implementing a Web Application Firewall with specific rule sets capable of detecting anomalous patterns in file management API calls can also provide an additional layer of defense by blocking requests that attempt to delete resources without proper session validation tokens. Regular auditing of plugin code for similar access control flaws is recommended to ensure comprehensive security posture across all integrated components within the WordPress ecosystem.