CVE-2025-7340
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files to WordPress sites using the HT Contact Form Widget plugin due to missing file type validation. Attackers can potentially achieve remote code execution by uploading malicious files like PHP shells. All WordPress sites with this plugin installed up to version 2.2.1 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- HT Contact Form Widget For Elementor Page Builder & Gutenberg Blocks & Form Builder
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server compromise leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or use as part of a botnet.
Likely Case
Website defacement, malware distribution, or credential harvesting through uploaded web shells.
If Mitigated
File upload attempts logged and blocked by web application firewall or file integrity monitoring.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple HTTP POST request with malicious file upload to vulnerable endpoint. No authentication required.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.2.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3326887/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'HT Contact Form Widget' and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify version is 2.2.2 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate ht-contactform
Web Application Firewall rule
allBlock file upload requests to the vulnerable endpoint
Block POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=temp_file_upload
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the HT Contact Form Widget plugin immediately
- Implement strict file upload restrictions at web server level (e.g., .htaccess rules blocking PHP execution in upload directories)
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for HT Contact Form Widget version 2.2.1 or lowerCheck Version:
wp plugin get ht-contactform --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 2.2.2 or higher in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=temp_file_upload
- Unusual file uploads to wp-content/uploads/ht-contactform/ directory
- PHP file execution from unexpected locations
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests with file uploads to WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoint
- Unusual outbound connections from web server
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND (url_path="/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" AND method="POST" AND params.action="temp_file_upload")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/ht-contactform/trunk/admin/Includes/Services/FileManager.php#L86
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3326887/ht-contactform/trunk/admin/Includes/Services/FileManager.php?contextall=1&old=3316109&old_path=%2Fht-contactform%2Ftrunk%2Fadmin%2FIncludes%2FServices%2FFileManager.php
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f0cb666b-bfab-492f-a74e-11dc9b171136?source=cve
