CVE-2026-2428
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:NCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2026-2428 is a high-severity Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity (CWE-345) vulnerability in Fluentforms (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Mark-of-the-Web Bypass (T1553.005); ranked at the 4th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SC-23 (Session Authenticity) and SI-7 (Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2026-2428 is an Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity vulnerability (CWE-345) in the Fluent Forms Pro Add On Pack plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 6.1.17. The issue arises because PayPal Instant Payment Notification (IPN) verification is disabled by default, with the `disable_ipn_verification` setting defaulting to `'yes'` in `PayPalSettings.php`. This configuration exposes a publicly accessible IPN endpoint to forged notifications without authenticity checks.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely with low complexity and no privileges, as indicated by its CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N). By sending crafted PayPal IPN messages to the endpoint, attackers can falsely mark unpaid form submissions as "paid," thereby triggering post-payment automations such as sending emails, granting user access, or delivering digital products.
Advisories and patch information are detailed in the Fluent Forms changelog at https://fluentforms.com/docs/changelog/#2-toc-title and Wordfence threat intelligence at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e5c62e54-da06-4b44-ba70-63065e664b0d?source=cve, published on 2026-02-27.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-8986
Vulnerability Data
The Fluent Forms Pro Add On Pack plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity in all versions up to, and including, 6.1.17. This is due to the PayPal IPN (Instant Payment Notification) verification being disabled by…
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default (`disable_ipn_verification` defaults to `'yes'` in `PayPalSettings.php`). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to send forged PayPal IPN notifications to the publicly accessible IPN endpoint, marking unpaid form submissions as "paid" and triggering post-payment automation (emails, access grants, digital product delivery).
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 8 hardening rules · 5 OS baselines
V3.5.5
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Explicit requirement to protect session authenticity structurally prevents the weakness for communications.
Integrity verification tools detect (but do not stop) the acceptance of data lacking authenticity.
Cryptographic mechanisms can be used to verify authenticity, thereby preventing acceptance of invalid data.
Associating security attributes with exchanged information supports verification of authenticity.
Integrity protection on transmitted data directly stops acceptance of unauthenticated or altered data.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
CWE-345 directly impairs RC.RP-05's verification of restored-asset integrity/authenticity, largely defeating the outcome while still leaving other restoration-confirmation steps partially viable.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing can detect missing or weak data authenticity verification.
Network controls can enforce authenticated channels, reducing risk of accepting unauthentic data.
Secure network services often include authenticity checks for data exchanged over those services.
Cryptographic mechanisms directly verify data origin and integrity, preventing acceptance of unauthentic data.
Secure SDLC incorporates authenticity verification requirements throughout development.
Application security requirements can mandate data authenticity verification mechanisms.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (2 rules)
- V-248574 YUM must be configured to prevent the installation of patches, service packs, device drivers, or OL 8 system components that have not been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
- V-248575 OL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
- V-271525 OL 9 must have GPG signature verification enabled for all software repositories. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 7 (2 rules)
- V-204447 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components from a repository without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
- V-204448 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 8 (2 rules)
- V-230264 RHEL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components from a repository without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
- V-230265 RHEL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
- V-257822 RHEL 9 must have GPG signature verification enabled for all software repositories. prevents CWE-345