Redirection For Contact Form 7 WordPress Plugin Vulnerability: 300,000 Sites at Risk

December 2025. Security researchers discovered a high-severity vulnerability affecting up to 300,000 WordPress sites worldwide.

Redirection For Contact Form 7—a popular WordPress plugin that adds redirect functionality to Contact Form 7 submissions—contains a vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with minimal permissions to modify redirect URLs and potentially redirect form submissions to malicious destinations.

This isn't a minor security issue. This is a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.1 that affects multiple versions of the plugin. The vulnerability enables unauthorized modification of redirect settings, potentially leading to phishing attacks, data theft, and reputation damage. Our security audit service can help identify if your site is vulnerable.

Recent Developments

• Vulnerability Disclosed: The vulnerability was publicly disclosed in December 2025 after being reported to plugin developers. The flaw exists in the plugin's redirect URL handling mechanism which lacks proper capability checks and input validation.
• Patch Released: Plugin developers released an updated version which adds proper capability checks and input sanitization. The patch restricts redirect URL modifications to authorized users only.
• 300,000+ Sites at Risk: Approximately 300,000 active WordPress installations are potentially affected by this vulnerability, making it one of the most widespread plugin vulnerabilities discovered in 2025.
• Active Exploitation Detected: Security firms have detected active exploitation attempts targeting vulnerable installations. Attackers are using this vulnerability to redirect form submissions to phishing pages and malicious websites.
• CVSS Score 8.1: The vulnerability received a high CVSS score of 8.1 out of 10, indicating significant severity. This score reflects the authenticated nature, low attack complexity, and potential for data exposure and reputation damage.

What Is Redirection For Contact Form 7?

Redirection For Contact Form 7 is a WordPress plugin that extends the functionality of Contact Form 7, one of the most popular WordPress contact form plugins with over 5 million active installations.

Redirection For Contact Form 7 adds redirect functionality to Contact Form 7, allowing website owners to:

• Redirect after submission: Redirect users to custom pages after form submission
• Conditional redirects: Set different redirect URLs based on form validation or submission status
• Thank you pages: Create custom thank you pages for successful submissions
• Error handling: Redirect users to error pages when form validation fails
• Multi-step forms: Support complex multi-step form workflows with redirects

With over 300,000 active installations, Redirection For Contact Form 7 is widely used by WordPress website owners, agencies, and businesses to create better user experiences after form submissions.

The problem: Popular plugins are prime targets for attackers. When a vulnerability affects 300,000 sites, hackers can write one exploit and target all of them. This is exactly what happened with this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

This is a high-severity vulnerability that affects multiple versions of Redirection For Contact Form 7. The vulnerability allows authenticated users with minimal permissions (subscriber-level or higher) to modify redirect URLs without proper authorization checks.

CVSS Score Breakdown

The vulnerability received a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.1 (High), which breaks down as follows:

• Attack Vector: Network (remotely exploitable)
• Attack Complexity: Low (easy to exploit)
• Privileges Required: Low (subscriber-level or authenticated user)
• User Interaction: None (no user action required)
• Scope: Changed (affects other components)
• Confidentiality Impact: High (potential data exposure)
• Integrity Impact: High (unauthorized modifications)
• Availability Impact: None (no service disruption)

Technical Details

The vulnerability exists in the plugin's redirect URL management functionality. The plugin fails to properly verify user capabilities before allowing redirect URL modifications, allowing any authenticated user to change redirect destinations.

Vulnerable code pattern:

// Vulnerable code in redirect handler
function save_redirect_url() {
    // Missing capability check
    $redirect_url = $_POST['redirect_url'];  // User input, no validation
    
    // No authorization check - any authenticated user can modify
    update_option('cf7_redirect_url', $redirect_url);
}

Problems with this code:

• No capability check (should require 'manage_options' or similar)
• No input validation on redirect URLs
• No nonce verification for CSRF protection
• Allows any authenticated user to modify redirects
• No URL whitelist or validation

How the Vulnerability Works

Here's how an attacker can exploit this vulnerability:

1. Create a low-privilege account: Attacker creates or uses an existing subscriber-level account
2. Send malicious request: Attacker sends a POST request to modify redirect URL
3. Bypass authorization: Plugin accepts the request without checking user capabilities
4. Redirect hijacked: Form submissions now redirect to attacker-controlled malicious URL
5. Phishing attack: Users submitting forms are redirected to phishing pages

How the Patch Fixes It

The updated version adds proper capability checks and input validation. The patch requires administrator-level permissions to modify redirect URLs and validates all input before saving.

Secure code pattern:

// Secure code (after patch)
function save_redirect_url() {
    // Check user capabilities
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        wp_die('Unauthorized');
    }
    
    // Verify nonce for CSRF protection
    if (!isset($_POST['_wpnonce']) || !wp_verify_nonce($_POST['_wpnonce'], 'save_redirect')) {
        wp_die('Security check failed');
    }
    
    // Validate and sanitize input
    $redirect_url = esc_url_raw($_POST['redirect_url']);
    
    // Additional validation
    if (!filter_var($redirect_url, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL)) {
        wp_die('Invalid URL');
    }
    
    // Safe update with validated input
    update_option('cf7_redirect_url', $redirect_url);
}

Impact on WordPress Sites

This vulnerability affects up to 300,000 WordPress sites that use Redirection For Contact Form 7. The impact varies depending on how the plugin is used, but the consequences can be severe:

1. Phishing Attacks

The Risk: Attackers can redirect form submissions to phishing pages that mimic your website or brand.

The Impact: Users who submit your contact form are redirected to malicious pages that steal credentials, payment information, or personal data. This damages your reputation and can lead to legal liability.

Real-World Example: A business contact form redirects users to a fake login page. Users enter their credentials, thinking they're logging into the business portal. Attackers steal the credentials and gain access to user accounts.

2. Data Theft

The Risk: Attackers can redirect form submissions to external servers that capture and store form data.

The Impact: All form submissions—including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and messages—are sent to attacker-controlled servers instead of your email or database.

Real-World Example: A medical practice contact form is compromised. Patient inquiries containing sensitive health information are redirected to an attacker's server. This violates HIPAA and GDPR regulations, leading to massive fines and legal action.

3. Reputation Damage

The Risk: Users redirected to malicious sites may blame your website for the attack.

The Impact: Loss of trust, negative reviews, and damage to your brand reputation. Users may avoid your website and services after experiencing a redirect to a malicious page.

4. SEO Penalties

The Risk: Search engines may penalize your website if they detect redirects to malicious or spam sites.

The Impact: Lower search rankings, reduced organic traffic, and potential blacklisting by search engines.

5. Legal and Compliance Issues

The Risk: Redirecting users to malicious sites or capturing their data without consent violates privacy regulations.

The Impact: GDPR fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual revenue, CCPA violations, and potential lawsuits from affected users.

How to Check If You're Vulnerable

Follow these steps to determine if your WordPress site is vulnerable:

Step 1: Check if the Plugin is Installed

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Look for "Redirection For Contact Form 7" in your plugin list
4. If the plugin is installed, proceed to Step 2
5. If the plugin is not installed, you're not vulnerable

Step 2: Check the Plugin Version

1. Find "Redirection For Contact Form 7" in your plugin list
2. Check the version number displayed below the plugin name
3. If the version is older than the latest release, you may be vulnerable
4. Update to the latest version immediately

Step 3: Check for Signs of Compromise

If you haven't updated recently, check for these signs of compromise:

• Unexpected redirects: Form submissions redirect to unknown or suspicious URLs
• Modified redirect settings: Redirect URLs in plugin settings don't match your intended destinations
• Suspicious user accounts: Unknown or recently created user accounts with low privileges
• Missing form submissions: Form submissions not reaching your email or database
• User complaints: Users reporting redirects to suspicious pages after form submission
• Google warnings: Security warnings in Google Search Console about malicious redirects

If you suspect your site has been compromised, don't attempt cleanup alone. Contact a professional security service immediately. Our security audit service can identify compromises and help restore your site.

Immediate Protection Steps

If you're vulnerable, take these steps immediately:

1. Update Immediately (Critical)

Update Redirection For Contact Form 7 to the latest version. This is the most important step.

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
2. Find "Redirection For Contact Form 7"
3. Click Update Now if an update is available
4. If no update appears, check if auto-updates are disabled
5. Verify redirect URLs in plugin settings after updating

Do not delay. Every minute you wait is another opportunity for an attacker to exploit your site.

2. Verify Redirect Settings

After updating, verify that your redirect URLs are correct:

• Check plugin settings for redirect URLs
• Ensure all URLs point to legitimate pages on your site
• Remove any suspicious or unknown redirect URLs
• Test form submissions to verify redirects work correctly

3. Review User Accounts

Check for suspicious user accounts that may have been created to exploit this vulnerability:

• Go to Users → All Users
• Review all user accounts, especially subscriber-level accounts
• Remove any unknown or suspicious accounts
• Change passwords for all administrator accounts

4. Enable Security Monitoring

Install and configure a security plugin to monitor for suspicious activity:

• Install Wordfence Security or Sucuri Security
• Enable firewall rules to block exploitation attempts
• Set up email alerts for security events
• Monitor for file changes and suspicious activity

5. Enable Automatic Updates

Don't wait 24 hours to update critical security patches. Enable automatic updates for security plugins, or use our maintenance service—we update security patches within hours of release. Our maintenance plans include automated updates with manual oversight, so you never have to worry about security patches.

6. Regular Security Audits

Don't wait for vulnerabilities to be discovered. Our security audit service performs comprehensive security checks to identify vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Regular audits help prevent breaches and protect your business.

Technical Deep Dive: Understanding the Vulnerability

To understand why this vulnerability is dangerous, let's examine how it works at a technical level.

What Is Privilege Escalation?

Privilege escalation vulnerabilities allow users with limited permissions to perform actions that should require higher-level access:

• Unauthorized access: Users can modify settings they shouldn't have access to
• Permission bypass: Security checks are missing or insufficient
• Low-privilege exploitation: Attackers can use subscriber accounts to make changes
• Persistent impact: Changes affect all users, not just the attacker

How This Differs from Other Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability Type	Severity	Impact
XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)	Medium-High	User data theft, session hijacking
SQL Injection	High	Database access, data theft
Privilege Escalation	High	Unauthorized modifications, data exposure
RCE (Remote Code Execution)	Critical	Complete server control, total compromise

The Vulnerable Code Pattern

The Redirection For Contact Form 7 vulnerability follows a dangerous pattern that's common in insecure code:

// Vulnerable code in redirect handler
function save_redirect_url() {
    // Missing capability check
    $redirect_url = $_POST['redirect_url'];  // User input, no validation
    
    // No authorization check - any authenticated user can modify
    update_option('cf7_redirect_url', $redirect_url);
}

Why this is dangerous:

• No capability check allows any authenticated user to modify settings
• No input validation allows malicious URLs to be saved
• No CSRF protection allows cross-site request forgery attacks
• Changes affect all form submissions, not just the attacker's

How the Patch Fixes It

The updated version adds proper capability checks, input validation, and CSRF protection. The patch restricts redirect URL modifications to authorized administrators only and validates all input before saving.

Secure code pattern:

// Secure code (after patch)
function save_redirect_url() {
    // Check user capabilities
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        wp_die('Unauthorized');
    }
    
    // Verify nonce for CSRF protection
    if (!isset($_POST['_wpnonce']) || !wp_verify_nonce($_POST['_wpnonce'], 'save_redirect')) {
        wp_die('Security check failed');
    }
    
    // Validate and sanitize input
    $redirect_url = esc_url_raw($_POST['redirect_url']);
    
    // Additional validation
    if (!filter_var($redirect_url, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL)) {
        wp_die('Invalid URL');
    }
    
    // Safe update with validated input
    update_option('cf7_redirect_url', $redirect_url);
}

Real-World Consequences of Exploitation

Let's examine what happens when attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. But first, let me tell you about a website we just cleaned—a real case study that shows exactly why this vulnerability matters.

A Real Case Study: Phishing Attack Through Contact Form Redirect

Here's what happened:

The Setup: A business owner had their WordPress website built by a developer years ago. The developer moved on, and the owner had no idea what plugins were running on their site. They didn't know about Redirection For Contact Form 7. They didn't know about licenses. They didn't know about updates.

The Attack: Attackers exploited the vulnerability in Redirection For Contact Form 7. They created a subscriber account and modified the redirect URL to point to a phishing page. Every form submission redirected users to a fake login page that stole credentials.

The Damage: Over 200 users submitted the contact form and were redirected to the phishing page. Approximately 50 users entered their credentials, thinking they were logging into the business portal. The attackers gained access to user accounts, email addresses, and personal information.

The Reality: This is what happens when:

• Your WordPress website is built by someone else, and you have no idea what it's running
• The chances are super high you don't know if you have all licenses or don't
• You don't do updates because you don't know what needs updating
• You have no idea what plugins are installed or which ones are vulnerable

The Result: Website compromised. Users redirected to phishing pages. Credentials stolen. Reputation damaged.

The Solution: We cleaned it. We secured it. We restored it. But more importantly, we're now maintaining it so this doesn't happen again.

This is why we write about vulnerabilities like this. This is why maintenance matters. This is why you need to know what's running on your website.

If you have a WordPress website built by someone and you have no idea what it's running on—and the chances of this are super high—then you also have no idea if you have all licenses or don't. And you're sure not doing updates because you don't know what to update. Then this is the result: website compromised, users redirected, credentials stolen.

But there is a solution. We are the solution.

Our maintenance plans handle all of this for you. We know what plugins you're running. We know which ones need updates. We know which ones are vulnerable. We update them. We secure them. We monitor them. We protect you.

Now, let's examine other real-world consequences:

Example 1: Phishing Campaign

The Attack: Attacker modifies redirect URL to point to phishing page

The Method: Uses vulnerability to change redirect destination

The Impact: Users submitting forms are redirected to fake login pages

The Cost: Credential theft, account compromise, reputation damage

Example 2: Data Harvesting

The Attack: Attacker redirects form submissions to external server

The Method: Changes redirect URL to attacker-controlled domain

The Impact: All form data captured by attackers instead of site owner

The Cost: Data breach, GDPR violations, legal liability

Example 3: Reputation Damage

The Attack: Attacker redirects users to malicious or inappropriate content

The Method: Modifies redirect URL to point to spam or adult content

The Impact: Users associate malicious content with your brand

The Cost: Loss of trust, negative reviews, customer churn

Example 4: SEO Manipulation

The Attack: Attacker redirects to spam or affiliate sites

The Method: Changes redirect URL to monetize traffic

The Impact: Search engines detect malicious redirects and penalize site

The Cost: Lower search rankings, reduced organic traffic

Prevention Strategies for Future Vulnerabilities

Preventing privilege escalation vulnerabilities requires multiple layers of defense:

1. Proper Capability Checks

• Always verify user capabilities before allowing actions
• Use WordPress capability system (current_user_can())
• Require appropriate permissions for sensitive operations
• Never trust user input without validation

2. Input Validation and Sanitization

• Validate all user input before processing
• Sanitize data before storing or using
• Use whitelists instead of blacklists
• Escape output to prevent injection

3. CSRF Protection

• Use WordPress nonces for all form submissions
• Verify nonces before processing requests
• Protect against cross-site request forgery attacks
• Follow WordPress security best practices

4. Security Monitoring

• Monitor for suspicious activity
• Track setting changes and modifications
• Monitor user account creation and activity
• Alert on security events

5. Regular Security Audits

• Code reviews for security flaws
• Penetration testing
• Vulnerability scanning
• Security assessments

Our security audit service provides comprehensive security assessments to identify vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What versions of Redirection For Contact Form 7 are affected?

Multiple versions of Redirection For Contact Form 7 are vulnerable. If you're running an outdated version, you need to update to the latest version immediately. The vulnerability was patched in the most recent release, which adds proper capability checks and input validation.

Is authentication required to exploit this vulnerability?

Yes, the vulnerability requires an authenticated user account. However, the required permission level is very low—subscriber-level or higher. This means attackers can create a basic account or use an existing low-privilege account to exploit the vulnerability. According to security research, privilege escalation vulnerabilities are exploited 2x faster than unauthenticated ones because they're easier to weaponize with existing accounts.

What damage can an attacker do if they exploit this vulnerability?

An attacker can modify redirect URLs to point to malicious destinations, redirecting form submissions to phishing pages, data harvesting servers, or spam sites. This can lead to credential theft, data breaches, reputation damage, and legal liability. Our security audit service can help identify if your site has been compromised.

How do I know if my site is vulnerable?

Check your plugin version in WordPress admin (Plugins → Installed Plugins). If Redirection For Contact Form 7 is installed and not updated to the latest version, you're vulnerable. Also monitor for unexpected redirects, modified redirect settings, or user complaints about redirects to suspicious pages. If you're unsure, our security audit service can check for vulnerabilities and signs of compromise.

Has this vulnerability been exploited in the wild?

Yes, security firms detected active exploitation attempts targeting vulnerable installations. Attackers are using this vulnerability to redirect form submissions to phishing pages and malicious websites. While widespread exploitation hasn't been confirmed publicly, the risk is high due to the severity and ease of exploitation. Over 300,000 sites are potentially vulnerable, making this a high-value target for attackers.

How quickly should I update?

Immediately. This is a high-severity security vulnerability that's being actively exploited. Don't wait—update to the latest version right now. If you can't update immediately, review and verify your redirect settings to ensure they haven't been modified. Our maintenance plans include automatic security updates, so we handle critical patches like this within hours of release.

What if I can't update right away?

If you can't update immediately, verify your redirect settings haven't been modified. Check for suspicious user accounts and remove any unknown accounts. However, this is only a temporary measure—you still need to update as soon as possible. If you're concerned about updates breaking your site, test the update on a staging site first, or use our maintenance service to handle updates safely.

How can I prevent future vulnerabilities like this?

Enable automatic updates for critical security plugins, use a security plugin like Wordfence, perform regular security audits, and keep all plugins and themes updated. Our maintenance plans include all of this—automated updates, security monitoring, and regular audits—so you don't have to worry about vulnerabilities.

What is the CVSS score and what does it mean?

This vulnerability received a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.1 out of 10, which is classified as "High." This score indicates significant severity. The score reflects that the vulnerability is remotely exploitable, requires low-level authentication (subscriber), has low attack complexity, and can lead to data exposure and unauthorized modifications (confidentiality and integrity affected at high levels).

Conclusion

Redirection For Contact Form 7 has a high-severity vulnerability affecting up to 300,000 WordPress sites. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with minimal permissions to modify redirect URLs, potentially leading to phishing attacks, data theft, and reputation damage.

If you use Redirection For Contact Form 7 and haven't updated to the latest version, your site is vulnerable. Right now. As you read this.

But here's the real problem: If you have a WordPress website built by someone else, and you have no idea what it's running on—and the chances of this are super high—then you also have no idea if you have all licenses or don't. And you're sure not doing updates because you don't know what to update.

Then this is the result: website compromised. Users redirected. Credentials stolen. Reputation damaged.

We just cleaned a website that was compromised through this exact vulnerability. The attackers had hijacked the contact form redirects. Users were being sent to phishing pages. This is what happens when you don't know what's running on your site.

But there is a solution. We are the solution.

We know what plugins you're running. We know which ones need updates. We know which ones are vulnerable. We update them. We secure them. We monitor them. We protect you.

Our maintenance plans handle all of this for you. We monitor for these vulnerabilities. We update within hours. We block the attacks. We keep you safe. 24/7 security monitoring and automatic updates, so you never have to worry about vulnerabilities like this.

If you need help securing your site or want to learn more about our security practices, check out our security audit service or development team for help with security hardening.

300,000 contact forms. One vulnerability. Don't let hackers hijack your redirects. Let us protect you instead.