Everest Forms <= 3.4.4 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read and Deletion via Upload Field 'old_files' Parameter
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The Everest Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Read and Deletion in all versions up to, and including, 3.4.4. This is due to the plugin trusting attacker-controlled old_files data from public form submissions as legitimate server-side upload state, and converting attacker-supplied URLs into local filesystem paths using regex-based string replacement without canonicalization or directory boundary enforcement. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary local files (e.g., wp-config.php) by injecting path-traversal payloads into the old_files upload field parameter, which are then attached to notification emails. The same path resolution is also used in the post-email cleanup routine, which calls unlink() on the resolved path, resulting in the targeted file being deleted after being attached. This can lead to full site compromise through disclosure of database credentials and authentication salts from wp-config.php, and denial of service through deletion of critical files. Prerequisite: The form must contain a file-upload or image-upload field, and disable storing entry information.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wpeverest | Everest Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form, Quiz, Survey & Custom Form Builder | up to 3.4.4 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Everest Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form, Quiz, Survey & Custom Form Builder Vendorwpeverest Affected up to 3.4.4 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-5478
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xmpv-jqm7-jj2v
References
Other 5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/8641eb53-6a9a-4549-b8ef-e37acbcc7f03?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/everest-forms/tags/3.4.4/includes/abstracts/class-evf-form-fields-upload.php#L1306
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/everest-forms/tags/3.4.4/includes/abstracts/class-evf-form-fields-upload.php#L1665
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/everest-forms/tags/3.4.4/includes/abstracts/class-evf-form-fields-upload.php#L1581
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3507814/everest-forms
More wpeverest vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-00958 Everest Forms <= 3.0.9.4 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload, Read, and Deletion CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-02850 Everest Forms Pro <= 1.9.12 - Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Calculation Field CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-01188 User Registration & Membership <= 5.1.2 - Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via Membership Registration CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-02262 User Registration & Membership < 4.1.3 - Authentication Bypass CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2025-02232 User Registration & Membership < 4.1.2- Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2022-03588 User Registration < 2.2.4.1 - Subscriber+ Arbitrary File Upload CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-5478 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-5478 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xmpv-jqm7-jj2v · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences