CVE-2026-19221 in Forminator Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2026
The Forminator Forms WordPress plugin before 1.57.0.5 does not restrict a network-wide setting to network administrators, allowing an administrator of any single site on a multisite network to execute arbitrary code across the entire network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Forminator Forms WordPress plugin prior to version 1.57.0.5 represents a critical failure in role-based access control within WordPress Multisite environments. This flaw stems from an improper restriction of administrative capabilities, specifically concerning global configuration settings that should be reserved for super administrators or network-wide managers. In a standard single-site installation, this issue may have limited impact; however, in the context of a multisite network where multiple distinct websites operate under a unified WordPress instance, the security implications are severe and far-reaching. The core technical flaw lies in the plugin's handling of capability checks for specific settings that affect the entire network infrastructure rather than just an individual site. By failing to verify whether the current user possesses super administrator privileges before allowing modifications to these global parameters, the software inadvertently grants elevated access rights to users who should only have limited authority over their own isolated sites.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-269, which denotes Improper Control of Interaction with Components, and more specifically aligns with CWE-862, Missing Authorization. The attacker exploits the lack of proper privilege verification to manipulate network-wide configurations. Because WordPress multisite architectures rely on strict separation of duties between site administrators and super administrators, this bypass allows a lower-level administrator to execute actions that propagate changes across all sites hosted within the same network instance. This architectural weakness effectively collapses the security boundary intended by the multisite setup, turning what should be an isolated administrative action into a vector for widespread compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for arbitrary code execution and lateral movement within the WordPress ecosystem. An attacker with access as a standard site administrator can leverage this flaw to alter global settings that might influence how forms are processed, validated, or stored across all sites in the network. Depending on the specific configuration options exposed by this misconfiguration, an adversary could potentially inject malicious scripts into form submissions, manipulate database interactions globally, or disable security features such as CSRF tokens and rate limiting for every site simultaneously. This capability transforms a localized administrative account into a powerful tool for compromising the integrity of the entire WordPress network, leading to data breaches, defacement, or the establishment of persistent backdoors across multiple domains hosted on the same server infrastructure.
This behavior is consistent with tactics observed in ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and lateral movement. Specifically, it aligns with T1078 Valid Accounts, where an attacker uses legitimate credentials that have been misconfigured or exploited to gain higher-level access than intended. Furthermore, by modifying global settings, the vulnerability facilitates persistence mechanisms (T1542) as changes made through this flaw would persist across site updates and reboots until manually corrected. The ability to execute arbitrary code via form processing configurations also touches upon T1059 Command Line Interface or script injection techniques, allowing for remote command execution if the underlying server environment permits it based on how the plugin handles user input in those global contexts.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running WordPress multisite networks must immediately upgrade the Forminator Forms plugin to version 1.57.0.5 or later, where these access control checks have been properly implemented. It is crucial to verify that all instances of the plugin across every site in the network are updated simultaneously to prevent any single outdated instance from serving as an entry point for a network-wide attack. Additionally, administrators should review their multisite user roles and ensure that only trusted super administrators have access to global configuration panels. Implementing strict file permissions on the WordPress installation directory can also help limit the impact of potential code execution by preventing unauthorized modifications to core plugin files or theme templates. Regular security audits focusing on role-based access control for all installed plugins are essential to maintain a robust defense posture against similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in complex web application environments.