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CVE-2026-13369 – Arbitrary File Read – Ninja Forms File Uploads WordPress Plugin (≤ 3.3.29)

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Summary

CVE-2026-13369 is a high-severity Arbitrary File Read vulnerability in the Ninja Forms – File Uploads plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.3.29. An unauthenticated remote attacker can supply a crafted server file path through the plugin’s email attachment mechanism, bypassing all upload validation, and exfiltrate any readable file from the server — including sensitive configuration and credential files. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 (High).

Technical details

  • Root cause (CWE-22): The get_files_for_attachment() function accepts a raw, attacker-controlled files array — including an arbitrary file_path value — without performing any upload validation, path normalization, or database record creation.
  • Trigger condition: A client-supplied saveProgress flag causes the process() method to return early, placing execution on a code path where the above validation is entirely skipped.
  • Attack path: The attacker-controlled file_path value is passed directly to WordPress’s native wp_mail() function as an email attachment; the only server-side check standing between the attacker and an arbitrary server file is a file_exists() call.
  • Impact: Full unauthenticated arbitrary file read — an attacker can exfiltrate any file the web server process can read, including wp-config.php (exposing database credentials and WordPress secret keys), private key material, and system files such as /etc/passwd. No authentication, no user interaction, and no special privileges are required.

Affected software

  • Ninja Forms – File Uploads (WordPress plugin by SaturdayDrive), all versions up to and including 3.3.29

Severity

  • CVSS v3.1 base score: 7.5 (High)
  • Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Patch immediately: Update the Ninja Forms – File Uploads plugin to version 3.3.30 or later. Version 3.3.30 was released on July 2, 2026; the vendor changelog explicitly references a fix to "block arbitrary file read via email attachment path traversal," directly addressing this vulnerability.
  • Verify your version: Sites running any version of the Ninja Forms – File Uploads plugin at or below 3.3.29 are vulnerable. Confirm the currently installed version in the WordPress admin dashboard under Plugins → Installed Plugins.
  • Interim mitigation (if patching is not immediately possible): Temporarily deactivate the Ninja Forms – File Uploads plugin, or restrict external access to form submission endpoints at the network or WAF layer, until the update can be applied.

IONIX Status

The IONIX research team is tracking ongoing exploitation attempts and recommends immediate patching. Potentially affected assets are outlined in this post.

References

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