CVE-2026-94666 in Generate PDF Using Contact Form 7 Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/09/2026
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in ZealousWeb Generate PDF using Contact Form 7 generate-pdf-using-contact-form-7 allows Path Traversal.This issue affects Generate PDF using Contact Form 7: from n/a through 4.2.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2026
The identified security flaw represents a classic path traversal vulnerability within the Generate PDF using Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions ranging from no initial version up to and including release 4.2.1. This type of vulnerability arises when an application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that is used to construct file system paths. In this specific context, the flaw allows an attacker to manipulate pathname parameters to access files and directories that are stored outside of the restricted web root directory intended for public access. By exploiting improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, malicious actors can bypass security controls designed to isolate application data from sensitive server resources.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is categorized under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The root cause typically involves insufficient validation of input strings that are concatenated with base directory paths without adequate checks for directory traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash or encoded variations thereof. When an attacker submits crafted requests containing these malicious path segments, the underlying PHP code processes them and resolves the resulting absolute path to a location outside the intended scope. This lack of strict boundary enforcement enables unauthorized read access to critical system files, configuration data, source code, or other sensitive information residing on the server infrastructure hosting the WordPress instance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it directly compromises the confidentiality integrity and potentially the availability of the targeted web application environment. Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated attackers to perform remote file inclusion attacks or simply read arbitrary files from the server's filesystem depending on the specific implementation details and permissions granted to the web server process. This can lead to the exposure of database credentials, private keys, internal network configurations, or other sensitive data that could facilitate further lateral movement within the network. Furthermore, if combined with other vulnerabilities such as file upload flaws, this path traversal issue could potentially be leveraged for remote code execution, thereby granting full control over the compromised server.
In terms of threat modeling and adversary behavior, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, where attackers probe the system to gather information about its structure and contents. It also relates to T1552.004: Unsecured Credentials if sensitive files containing passwords or API keys are accessed. The exploitation of this flaw does not require authentication in many configurations, making it a high-risk issue for any publicly accessible WordPress site running the affected plugin versions. Attackers often automate such scans using specialized tools to identify vulnerable instances across large segments of the internet, leading to widespread compromise if left unpatched.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required by updating the Generate PDF using Contact Form 7 plugin to a version newer than 4.2.1 where these path traversal issues have been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization techniques. Administrators should ensure that file access functions strictly adhere to allow-listing principles rather than deny-listing, ensuring only expected files within designated directories can be accessed. Additionally implementing web application firewalls with rules specifically tuned for detecting directory traversal patterns can provide an additional layer of defense in depth while patches are applied. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on file system operations are recommended to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future updates or custom integrations involving Contact Form 7 extensions.