Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:N) | Network: reachable remotely |
| Attack complexity (AC:L) | Low complexity |
| Privileges required (PR:N) | No privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:N) | No user interaction |
| Scope (S:U) | Scope unchanged |
| Confidentiality (C:H) | High confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (I:H) | High integrity impact |
| Availability (A:H) | High availability impact |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
About Contact Manager
CVE-2026-109218 affects Contact Manager. Before acting, confirm where Contact Manager runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: The Contact Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Upload in all versions up to, and including, 9.1.2 via the add_message function. This is due to an incomplete extension blacklist that fails to detect dangerous extensions when a trailing dot causes the extension-derivation routine to return an empty string, which sanitize_file_name() then silently removes before the file is written to disk. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to upload files that may be executable, which makes remote code execution possible. Successful code execution additionally requires the server to use Apache with libapache2-mod-php (which maps .phar to PHP by default) and the attacker to retrieve the uploaded file within the brief window before it is removed by unlink() at end of request.
The weakness class is Unrestricted File Upload. Dangerous file types, such as scripts, can be uploaded and run.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs no login, and needs no user interaction. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Contact Manager |
| Affected versions | See the vendor advisory under Technical References |
| Published | Oct 28, 2026 |
| Last modified | Oct 28, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Not listed |
| Assigning CNA | security@wordfence.com |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of Contact Manager and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of Contact Manager named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on Contact Manager to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Rank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
- CWE-434: Unrestricted File Upload More CVEs with this weakness
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
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