Path Traversal in Forminator WordPress Plugin

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-57815 is a vulnerability in the WordPress Forminator Plugin versions 1.55.0.2 and below that allows an unauthenticated attacker to perform an arbitrary file download from the affected website.

This vulnerability is a type of Path Traversal issue, meaning the attacker can bypass restrictions on file paths to access files outside the intended directory.

Exploiting this flaw, attackers can download sensitive files such as login credentials or backups without any authentication.

The vulnerability is classified under OWASP Top 10's A1: Broken Access Control and has a high severity score of 7.5.

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Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability on your network or system involves checking for the presence of the vulnerable Forminator plugin version and monitoring for signs of exploitation. Below are some methods and commands to help identify the issue.

• Check the installed version of the Forminator plugin on your WordPress site. If the version is 1.55.0.2 or below, the site is vulnerable. You can find the version in the WordPress admin dashboard under 'Plugins' or by inspecting the plugin files directly.
• Use the following command to search for the Forminator plugin directory and check its version in the readme.txt or plugin header file: 'grep -r 'Stable tag:' /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/forminator/readme.txt'. Replace '/path/to/wordpress/' with your WordPress installation directory.
• Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests targeting the Forminator plugin. Look for patterns such as '../' sequences or requests to '/wp-content/plugins/forminator/' with unusual parameters, which may indicate path traversal attempts.
• Use a web application firewall (WAF) or intrusion detection system (IDS) to detect and block exploitation attempts. Patchstack provides mitigation rules that can be applied to block attacks until the plugin is updated.
• Scan your WordPress site using a vulnerability scanner that supports CVE detection, such as WPScan. Run the following command: 'wpscan --url yourwebsite.com --enumerate vp'. Replace 'yourwebsite.com' with your site's URL.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can have serious impacts including unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information.

• Attackers can download sensitive files such as login credentials and backups.
• It can lead to data breaches compromising user data and website security.
• Because the vulnerability requires no authentication, it can be exploited at scale in mass campaigns targeting many websites.

Immediate patching or applying mitigation rules is recommended to prevent exploitation.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability can severely impact compliance with standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA due to its potential to expose sensitive data.

• GDPR: The arbitrary file download vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive files, which may include personally identifiable information (PII). Under GDPR, unauthorized access to or exposure of PII can result in violations of data protection principles, leading to significant fines and legal consequences.
• HIPAA: If the affected website handles protected health information (PHI), this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to such data. HIPAA requires strict safeguards to protect PHI, and a breach resulting from this vulnerability could constitute a violation, subjecting the organization to penalties and mandatory breach notifications.
• The high CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a significant risk, which regulators may view as a failure to implement adequate security measures, further exacerbating compliance risks.

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Mitigation Strategies

Immediate action is recommended to mitigate this vulnerability by updating the WordPress Forminator Plugin to version 1.55.1 or later.

Until the update is applied, applying a mitigation rule provided by Patchstack to block attacks targeting this vulnerability is advised.

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