Plugin Name	Contact Form Entries
Type of Vulnerability	Access Control Vulnerability
CVE Number	CVE-2026-0825
Urgency	Low
CVE Publish Date	2026-01-27
Source URL	CVE-2026-0825

Urgent: Broken Access Control in Contact Form Entries (≤ 1.4.5) — Critical Actions for WordPress Sites

Author: Managed-WP Security Experts

Date: 2026-01-28

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Executive Summary

A broken access control vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-0825 affects Contact Form Entries plugin versions up to 1.4.5. This flaw enables unauthenticated actors to export sensitive form submission data through a CSV export feature without permission checks. Version 1.4.6 provides a patch for this exploit. This post outlines the risks, detection methods, immediate defenses, patching guidelines, and how Managed-WP’s security services further protect your WordPress ecosystem.

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Table of Contents

• Incident Overview
• Technical Breakdown
• Scope of Impact
• Potential Risks in Real-World Settings
• Exploitability and CVSS Analysis
• Detection Techniques
• Short-Term Mitigation Measures
• Permanent Remediation Strategies
• Developer Security Best Practices
• Managed-WP Defense Overview
• Why Prompt Patching Matters
• How to Get Immediate Protection with Managed-WP
• Post-Incident Recommendations
• Timeline & Credits
• Summary Checklist

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Incident Overview

On January 28, 2026, a broken access control vulnerability was disclosed in the Contact Form Entries plugin versions 1.4.5 and earlier. This flaw allows unauthenticated users to abuse a CSV export endpoint to download stored form data, exposing potentially sensitive information including names, emails, phone numbers, and messages. The plugin developer responded with the timely release of version 1.4.6 to address this issue.

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Technical Breakdown

This vulnerability arises from a server-side missing authorization check on the CSV export feature. Typically, export functions are gated behind administrator capabilities or require valid nonces for protection. In this case, the endpoint accepted requests from unauthenticated sources without validation, enabling arbitrary CSV data exports.

Key technical aspects include:

• The export endpoint can be reached through HTTP(S) calls, possibly via admin-ajax, REST API routes, or plugin-specific files.
• It executes database queries to retrieve form submissions and streams CSV output.
• Authorization checks such as current_user_can() and nonce verification are absent or improperly implemented.
• Attackers can script automated requests for mass data extraction without authentication.

We avoid sharing exploit code but focus on equipping administrators with actionable, safe remediation instructions.

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Scope of Impact

• All WordPress sites running Contact Form Entries ≤ 1.4.5 with active CSV export functionality.
• Sites that have never actively invoked export remain at risk because the endpoint may be triggered remotely.
• Sites collecting personally identifiable information (PII), payment details, or sensitive communications face elevated exposure.

To confirm your plugin version, check wp-admin → Plugins or run wp plugin list via WP-CLI. Prioritize patching for high-traffic or sensitive-data-handling environments.

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Potential Risks in Real-World Settings

Exploitation could result in:

• Mass Data Leakage: Bulk export of private form submissions containing PII or confidential information.
• Phishing & Social Engineering: Harvested data can aid targeted scams using customer details.
• Compliance Violations: Breaches could trigger GDPR, CCPA, or other regulatory penalties.
• Brand Damage: Public exposure undermines user trust and brand reputation.
• Account Takeover Risks: If forms capture authentication tokens or relevant credentials, attackers may escalate privileges.

Automated attacks exploiting this vulnerability can be widespread and indiscriminate, making vigilance essential.

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Exploitability and CVSS Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as Broken Access Control with a CVSS v3 base score of approximately 5.3 (Medium).

• Attack Vector: Network – HTTP(S) requests.
• Authentication: None required.
• Complexity: Low – no advanced techniques needed beyond sending requests.
• Impact: Confidentiality loss primarily.

Real-world impact depends on data sensitivity and volume contained within affected forms.

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Detection Techniques

Indicators of exploitation include:

1. Web Server Logs: Frequent or unusual requests targeting URLs containing “export,” “csv,” or the plugin slug, especially from unfamiliar IP addresses.
2. WordPress Audit Logs: Unexpected CSV export activities without legitimate user sessions.
3. Response Patterns: Successful 200 OK responses to exports without authentication cookies.
4. File System Checks: Newly created CSV files in publicly accessible directories.
5. Analytics/CDN: Bandwidth spikes on export endpoint URLs.
6. Firewall Logs: Detection of suspicious export request patterns.

Preserve logs and data artifacts carefully for incident investigations and legal compliance if a breach is suspected.

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Short-Term Mitigation Measures

If immediate patching is not possible, implement one or more of the following to reduce risk:

1. Update Contact Form Entries to 1.4.6 (recommended highest priority)
2. Web Server Blocking Rules: Apply temporary .htaccess or nginx rules to block export endpoint access.
3. Authentication Enforcement Plugin: Deploy an MU-plugin to restrict export requests to authenticated administrators.
4. IP Blocking and Rate-Limiting: Identify and block abusive IPs; throttle repeated export requests.
5. Disable Plugin Temporarily: If acceptable, deactivate until patched.
6. Remove Public CSV Files: Delete or relocate previously exported files from public directories.
7. Harden File Permissions: Prevent direct HTTP access to plugin internals.

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Permanent Remediation Strategies

1. Update to Contact Form Entries 1.4.6 or higher immediately.
2. Post-Update Actions:
   • Perform comprehensive malware and vulnerability scans.
   • Audit access logs for suspicious pre-patching export activity.
   • Rotate credentials or secrets exposed within form data.
3. Secure Export Endpoints:
   • Verify capability checks (current_user_can('manage_options')) on export hooks.
   • Ensure nonces are validated on export and sensitive actions.
   • REST API routes must enforce proper permission_callback checks.
4. Continuous Monitoring:
   • Watch export activities for at least 90 days post-remediation.
5. Incident Notification:
   • Notify affected parties and authorities as per regulations if breach confirmed.

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Developer Security Best Practices

For plugin authors and maintainers:

• Implement strict capability checks on all export and admin functions.
• Incorporate WP nonce verification on state-changing requests.
• Adhere to principle of least privilege — only authorized roles allowed export.
• Limit sensitive data collection and encrypt when feasible.
• Log export actions with audit details (user, timestamp, IP).
• Apply rate limiting to prevent abuse.
• Sanitize input thoroughly and escape CSV output.
• Disable public export features by default.

Example secure export pseudocode snippet:

function plugin_export_entries() {
  if ( ! is_user_logged_in() || ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
    wp_send_json_error( 'Unauthorized', 403 );
  }

  if ( ! isset( $_REQUEST['_wpnonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( $_REQUEST['_wpnonce'], 'plugin_export_nonce' ) ) {
    wp_send_json_error( 'Invalid nonce', 403 );
  }

  // Proceed with sanitized data retrieval and CSV generation
}

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How Managed-WP Protects Your Site

Managed-WP offers tailored WordPress security services designed to safeguard against vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-0825:

Free Plan — Immediate Coverage

• Managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that block common unauthorized exports and broken access control attack patterns.
• Unlimited traffic protection with no throttling of legitimate users.
• Weekly malware scanning targeting suspicious files and behavior.
• Risk mitigation aligned with OWASP Top 10—covering authorization, injection, and data exposure.

Standard Plan (USD 50/year)

• All Free features plus:
• Automatic malware removal to clean up after attempted exploitations.
• Custom IP blacklisting and whitelisting capabilities to manage attack source blocking or admin access.

Pro Plan (USD 299/year)

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• Monthly detailed security reports for audit and compliance.
• Real-time virtual patching with custom WAF rules targeting emerging vulnerabilities without manual code changes.
• Premium managed services, including expert remediation assistance and dedicated account management.

By leveraging Managed-WP, you gain a proactive defense posture while managing plugin updates and incident response.

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Why Prompt Patching Is Essential

While WAFs and server rules offer valuable stop-gap protections, they cannot replace permanent fixes. Attackers may find alternative attack vectors or bypass superficial blocks. Timely patching of plugins remains the most effective method to defend your WordPress site and customer data integrity.

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Get Immediate Protection with Managed-WP

Gain peace of mind and shore up defenses without delay:

• Deploy Managed-WP’s free Basic plan for rapid, managed firewall and malware scanning.
• Take advantage of our expertly curated WAF rules against broken access control and other exploit vectors.
• Start with no-commit, low-effort setup and enhance your security posture swiftly.
• Visit: https://managed-wp.com/pricing for plan details and enrollment.

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Post-Incident Recommendations

1. Contain the Incident:
   • Reset admin credentials and any privileged account passwords.
   • Revoke exposed API credentials or tokens.
   • Block identified attacker IP addresses and intensify monitoring.
2. Preserve Evidence:
   • Maintain detailed logs and exports for forensic analysis.
3. Notify Appropriate Parties:
   • Follow your breach response protocols and comply with regulatory notification requirements.
4. Remediate Fully:
   • Update the plugin promptly and conduct comprehensive scanning.
   • Remove backdoors and consider site restoration if compromised.
5. Review and Improve:
   • Conduct root cause analysis for patching delays or process gaps.
   • Implement regular security audits and patch management processes.

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Timeline & Credits

• Vulnerability Disclosure: January 28, 2026
• Affected Versions: Contact Form Entries ≤ 1.4.5
• Patched Version: 1.4.6
• CVE ID: CVE-2026-0825
• Researcher: Teerachai Somprasong

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Summary Checklist

• Verify and update Contact Form Entries plugin to 1.4.6 or newer across all sites.
• If immediate update is not viable:
  • Deploy temporary .htaccess/nginx rules to block export endpoint traffic.
  • Activate an MU-plugin to require user authentication on export requests.
  • Utilize Managed-WP’s free firewall plan for managed protection.
• Audit logs for unauthorized CSV export activities and secure preserved data.
• Schedule frequent plugin vulnerability scans and apply crucial updates within a 24-48 hour window.
• For plugin developers, reinforce server-side authorization and nonce validation rigorously.

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If you require expert assistance to audit your site, implement protective blocks, or apply tailored WAF configurations, Managed-WP’s security team is here to help. Your fastest route to baseline protection is enabling our free Basic plan at: https://managed-wp.com/pricing

Stay vigilant,
The Managed-WP Security Team

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