Critical WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Exposes Websites to Remote Code Execution

A severe security vulnerability has been discovered in the popular WordPress plugin Gravity Forms, potentially exposing websites to remote code execution attacks. Security firm Patchstack identified the supply chain breach on July 14, 2025, prompting an immediate response from the plugin's publisher.

The security threat emerged when attackers successfully injected malicious code that created dangerous backdoor access into Gravity Forms' common.php file, compromising thousands of WordPress websites. This incident highlights the growing concerns around supply chain attacks in the WordPress ecosystem.

Supply Chain Attack Details and Impact

The sophisticated attack involved criminals uploading an infected version of the plugin directly to the publisher's repository. The compromised code initiated HTTP POST requests to a fraudulent domain (gravityapi.org) that mimicked the official Gravity Forms domain.

The malware's capabilities included:

• Uploading arbitrary files to affected servers
• Accessing complete WordPress user account information
• Deleting user accounts at will
• Unrestricted access to server files and directories, including sensitive credentials

"The vulnerability enables complete access to server files regardless of permissions, potentially exposing critical configuration files containing database credentials," explained Patchstack in their advisory.

Immediate Response and Mitigation

RocketGenius, the company behind Gravity Forms, demonstrated exemplary incident response by:

• Immediately releasing a patched version (2.9.13) of the plugin
• Working with Namecheap to suspend the malicious domain
• Blocking communication between compromised sites and attacker servers

Website owners using Gravity Forms should immediately update to the latest version to protect their sites from potential exploitation. For enhanced protection, implementing comprehensive WordPress security measures is essential.

Protection Strategies for Website Security

To safeguard WordPress websites against similar attacks, administrators should:

1. Implement regular plugin updates and security audits
2. Monitor plugin repositories for suspicious activities
3. Maintain comprehensive backup systems

The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of supply chain security in the WordPress ecosystem. For website owners concerned about potential infections, utilizing reliable malware removal tools can help detect and eliminate threats.

Additional Security Recommendations

• Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) for enhanced protection
• Implement two-factor authentication for administrative access
• Regularly scan websites for security vulnerabilities
• Maintain detailed logs of all plugin updates and changes
• Create an incident response plan for security breaches