CVE-2022-1442
Published: 10 May 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-1442 is a high-severity Missing Authorization (CWE-862) vulnerability in Wpmet Metform Elementor Contact Form Builder. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 1.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
The Metform WordPress plugin is affected by an information disclosure vulnerability (CVE-2022-1442) stemming from missing authorization checks in the core/forms/action.php file. Versions up to and including 2.1.3 expose API keys and secrets for all configured third-party integrations, including PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp, HubSpot, HelpScout, and reCAPTCHA. The flaw carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 and is classified under CWE-862.
An unauthenticated attacker with network access can directly request the vulnerable endpoint and retrieve the full set of stored credentials without authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation yields read-only access to sensitive integration secrets, enabling further attacks against the affected site’s payment, email, or analytics services.
Public references point to a WordPress plugin changeset (2711944) that addresses the access-control issue in action.php, and Wordfence threat intelligence confirms the same root cause and scope. Site administrators should apply the available plugin update that removes the unauthenticated disclosure path.
EPSS for this CVE rose to a peak of 0.8519 on 2025-12-11 before receding to the current value of 0.7138, indicating renewed exploitation interest well after the original 2022 disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-24749
Vulnerability details
The Metform WordPress plugin is vulnerable to sensitive information disclosure due to improper access control in the ~/core/forms/action.php file which can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to view all API keys and secrets of integrated third-party APIs like that…
more
of PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp, Hubspot, HelpScout, reCAPTCHA and many more, in versions up to and including 2.1.3.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Requiring an access control policy ensures authorization checks are defined and applied for critical functions.
Reviews of access controls detect missing authorization checks on critical functions or resources.
Documenting permitted unauthenticated actions prevents missing authorization by making all exceptions explicit and subject to organizational review.
Requiring attribute association with information prevents authorization from being performed without necessary security or privacy context.
Mandating authorization prior to allowing remote connections addresses missing authorization for remote access.
Mandating authorization before wireless connections are allowed prevents missing authorization for wireless access.
The control requires authorization before allowing mobile device connections, directly mitigating missing authorization for system access.
Requiring approvals for account creation and specifying authorizations ensures authorization is not missing for system access.