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CVE Record

CVE-2025-11977: HappyForms <= 1.26.12 - Authenticated (Admin+) Local File Inclusion

The Happyforms – Form Builder for WordPress: Drag & Drop Contact Forms, Surveys, Payments & Multipurpose Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 1.26.12 via the happyforms_get_form_partial() function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to include and execute arbitrary .php files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files. This can be used to bypass access controls, obtain sensitive data, or achieve code execution in cases where .php file types can be uploaded and included.

MediumCVSS 6.6Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-11977 affects the HappyForms WordPress plugin through version 1.26.12. A logged-in WordPress administrator could make the plugin include and run PHP files already on the server. This is serious on sites where administrator accounts are shared, compromised, or can upload PHP files, but it is not a unauthenticated internet-wide issue.

Executive priority

Treat as a near-term WordPress hygiene priority, especially for high-value or multi-admin sites. It is less urgent than unauthenticated remote exploitation, but administrator compromise could turn this into full site compromise.

Technical view

The issue is a Local File Inclusion vulnerability, CWE-98, in happyforms_get_form_partial(). Sources state authenticated attackers with Administrator-level access or higher can include and execute arbitrary .php files on the server. CVSS is 6.6 with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, but high privileges and high attack complexity are required.

Likely exposure

WordPress sites running HappyForms versions up to and including 1.26.12 are the relevant exposure. Practical risk is concentrated where Administrator accounts are numerous, weakly protected, compromised, or able to place PHP files on the server.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Exploitation requires Administrator-level access and a usable PHP file inclusion path. It may enable access-control bypass, sensitive data exposure, or code execution when PHP files can be uploaded and included.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports an authenticated Admin+ LFI in HappyForms through 1.26.12. The provided references include plugin source files and a WordPress changeset, but the source bundle does not name a fixed version. Avoid assuming patch status beyond vendor-confirmed guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all WordPress sites running the HappyForms plugin.
  • Check vendor or WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed release.
  • Update HappyForms when a fixed version is confirmed available.
  • Temporarily disable HappyForms if business impact is acceptable.
  • Restrict Administrator access to trusted users only.
  • Require strong authentication and MFA for WordPress administrators.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether HappyForms is installed on each WordPress site.
  • Record the installed HappyForms version and flag versions through 1.26.12.
  • Review WordPress Administrator accounts for unnecessary or stale access.
  • Check for unexpected PHP files in writable web directories.
  • Review web and WordPress logs for unusual administrator activity.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-98: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-11977 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.6 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
4Timeline events
1ADP providers
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.6CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.75.9Wordfence

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.6Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-11977Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. Source timelineWordfence

    Disclosed

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
happyformsHappyforms – Form Builder for WordPress: Drag & Drop Contact Forms, Surveys, Payments & Multipurpose Forms0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-98

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-98 · source CWE mapping

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion')

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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