CVE-2025-2801
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary WordPress shortcodes through the Create custom forms for WordPress with a smart form plugin for smart businesses plugin. Attackers can potentially execute malicious code, access sensitive data, or modify site content. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 1.2.4 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Create custom forms for WordPress with a smart form plugin for smart businesses (abcsubmit)
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete site takeover through execution of arbitrary PHP code, data exfiltration, or installation of backdoors via malicious shortcodes.
Likely Case
Unauthorized content modification, privilege escalation, or data leakage through existing WordPress shortcode functionality.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if shortcode execution is restricted through security plugins or hardened WordPress configurations.
🎯 Exploit Status
Direct exploitation requires crafting malicious shortcode payloads. Attackers can leverage existing WordPress shortcodes or potentially execute arbitrary code.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.2.5 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/abcsubmit/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Create custom forms for WordPress with a smart form plugin for smart businesses'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the plugin until patched version is available
wp plugin deactivate abcsubmit
Restrict shortcode execution
allUse security plugins to limit shortcode execution capabilities
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious shortcode patterns
- Restrict plugin access through .htaccess or web server configuration
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Create custom forms for WordPress with a smart form plugin for smart businesses' version 1.2.4 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get abcsubmit --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.2.5 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode execution patterns in WordPress debug logs
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by plugin-specific requests
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests containing unusual shortcode parameters to plugin endpoints
- Traffic spikes to /wp-content/plugins/abcsubmit/
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("abcsubmit" OR "do_shortcode") AND (status=200 OR status=500)🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/abcsubmit/tags/1.2.4/abcsubmit.php#L86
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/abcsubmit/tags/1.2.4/abcsubmit.php#L88
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/abcsubmit/#developers
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e45afda4-447a-4d95-90cb-9731b398a009?source=cve
