CVE-2026-3492 in Gravity Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2026
The Gravity Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in all versions up to, and including, 2.9.28.1. This is due to a compound failure involving missing authorization on the `create_from_template` AJAX endpoint (allowing any authenticated user to create forms), insufficient input sanitization (`sanitize_text_field()` preserves single quotes), and missing output escaping when the form title is rendered in the Form Switcher dropdown (`title` attribute constructed without `esc_attr()`, and JavaScript `saferHtml` utility only escapes `&`, `<`, `>` but not quotes). This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to inject arbitrary JavaScript that executes when an Administrator searches in the Form Switcher dropdown in the Form Editor.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-3492 affects the Gravity Forms WordPress plugin, specifically impacting versions through 2.9.28.1. This represents a significant security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through a combination of authorization failures and inadequate input/output sanitization mechanisms. The issue stems from the plugin's handling of form creation and display functionality within its administrative interface, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection that can affect high-privilege users.
The technical exploitation occurs through multiple interconnected weaknesses that compound the vulnerability. The primary flaw exists in the `create_from_template` AJAX endpoint which lacks proper authorization checks, allowing any authenticated user regardless of role to create new forms within the system. This unauthorized form creation capability serves as the initial attack vector. Additionally, the plugin employs `sanitize_text_field()` for input validation which, while effective for many scenarios, fails to adequately sanitize single quotes that can be exploited in XSS contexts. The most critical aspect involves the rendering of form titles in the Form Switcher dropdown where the `title` attribute is constructed without proper `esc_attr()` escaping, combined with the JavaScript `saferHtml` utility that only escapes ampersands, less-than, and greater-than characters but neglects quote characters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for WordPress administrators and site owners who rely on Gravity Forms for critical form processing. An attacker with Subscriber-level access or higher can inject malicious JavaScript code that will execute when administrators interact with the Form Switcher dropdown during form editing sessions. This creates a persistent threat where malicious scripts can potentially steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress administrative interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate administrative functionality to deliver attacks, making detection more challenging and exploitation more effective.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) classifications, representing a classic case where insufficient access controls compound with inadequate output sanitization to create exploitable conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1548.002 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanisms) as it exploits legitimate user accounts to gain elevated privileges through administrative interface manipulation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions and implement additional monitoring for suspicious form creation activities. Network segmentation and role-based access control measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers, while regular security audits of plugin installations should verify proper sanitization and authorization mechanisms are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.