CVE-2026-5461 in Forminator Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
The Forminator Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Limited File Deletion in all versions up to, and including, 1.55.0.2. This is due to the plugin accepting arbitrary upload field metadata from POST requests in draft submissions without proper validation, which is then used to delete files when a subsequent draft references the poisoned draft via the previous_draft_id parameter. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary non-PHP files within the wp-content/uploads/ directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The Forminator Forms plugin for WordPress contains a critical security vulnerability classified as Limited File Deletion, affecting all versions up through 1.55.0.2. This flaw stems from an insufficient validation mechanism regarding how draft submissions handle file metadata. Specifically, the application accepts arbitrary upload field metadata submitted via POST requests during the creation of form drafts without performing adequate integrity checks or authorization validations on the referenced files. This design oversight allows attackers to manipulate internal state variables that dictate which files are associated with a specific form entry.
The exploitation vector relies on a two-step process involving draft manipulation and subsequent deletion triggers. An unauthenticated attacker can first submit a maliciously crafted POST request containing poisoned metadata for an upload field, effectively registering this data within the system's draft storage mechanism. Subsequently, by submitting another draft that references the previously created poisoned entry via the previous_draft_id parameter, the application processes the invalid metadata and executes file deletion operations based on these untrusted inputs. This sequence allows the attacker to bypass standard access controls because the vulnerability operates at the level of internal data processing rather than direct user-facing interface restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any WordPress site utilizing Forminator Forms, particularly those that accept user-generated content with file attachments such as resumes, images, or documents stored in the wp-content/uploads/ directory. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this flaw to delete arbitrary non-PHP files located within this directory structure. While the restriction to non-PHP files limits the potential for immediate remote code execution, the ability to arbitrarily remove uploaded assets constitutes a severe integrity violation and denial of service condition. This can lead to data loss, disruption of business operations that rely on stored documents, and erosion of user trust in the platform's reliability.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which describes Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference or similar input validation failures leading to unintended side effects, though more accurately it maps to CWE-22 for Path Traversal if path manipulation is involved, or generally CWE-732 for Incorrect Permission Assignment. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior corresponds to T1485, Data Destruction, where an adversary modifies or destroys data on a target system. The lack of authentication required for exploitation places it in the initial access or persistence phase depending on how the attacker leverages the deletion for further objectives such as disrupting audit trails or hiding tracks after other compromises.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation and long-term defensive coding practices. Site administrators should update the Forminator Forms plugin to version 1.55.0.3 or later, where this validation flaw has been addressed by developers implementing stricter checks on draft metadata integrity before processing deletion requests. In environments where updating is not immediately feasible, temporary mitigations include restricting write permissions on the wp-content/uploads/ directory for the web server process and employing Web Application Firewalls to monitor and block suspicious POST patterns that exhibit characteristics of this exploitation chain, such as unusual sequences of draft submissions with mismatched or malformed metadata identifiers. Regular audits of file system integrity can also help detect unauthorized deletions early in their lifecycle.