Path traversal in Groundhogg WordPress plugin allows file deletion
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The Groundhogg CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation plugin for WordPress is affected in all versions up to and including 4.9.3. Insufficient file path validation in the copy_file function allows path traversal (CWE-22). An authenticated user with Sales Representative access or the import_contacts capability can delete arbitrary files on the server. Deleting a file such as wp-config.php can lead to remote code execution.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
The Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the copy_file function in all versions up to, and including, 4.9.3 This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Sales Representative-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). This is exploitable by any user holding the plugin-defined import_contacts capability, which is granted by default to the plugin's custom Sales Representative role.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| trainingbusinesspros | Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation | up to 4.9.3 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation Vendortrainingbusinesspros Affected up to 4.9.3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1
Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:groundhogg:groundhogg:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | trainingbusinesspros |
- cpe:2.3:a:groundhogg:groundhogg:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·trainingbusinesspros
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Groundhogg.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Timeline
- 2026-10-16 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-109221
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-16 Alias added: GHSA-xq4h-vhg9-4x8m
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 12
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/fb5100ac-cfe6-4e91-9349-6e8efa850147?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/classes/traits/file-box.php#L94
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/classes/traits/file-box.php#L85
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/utils/files.php#L323
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/functions.php#L2872
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/functions.php#L8045
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/background/import-contacts.php#L200
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/admin/tools/tools-page.php#L575
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/admin/tools/tools-page.php#L602
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/includes/main-roles.php#L583
- https://github.com/groundhoggwp/groundhogg/commit/e319e4a849bfbb07cccfbac8558ad6bf07a7fdc0
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3744461/groundhogg/trunk/includes/classes/traits/file-box.php
More trainingbusinesspros vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-01346 Groundhogg Contacts < 2.7.9.4 - Admin+ SQLi CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.2
- TI-2023-01986 HollerBox < 2.1.4 - Admin+ SQL Injection CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.9
- TI-2019-11742 The groundhogg plugin before 1.3.5 for WordPress has… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2025-00313 Groundhogg <= 3.7.3.5 - Authenticated (Author+) Arbitrary File Upload via gh_big_file_upload Function CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-67410 Improper privilege management in trainingbusinesspros Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-17022 WordPress Groundhogg Plugin <= 2.7.11 is vulnerable to Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-109221 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-109221 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xq4h-vhg9-4x8m · 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