CVE-2026-103039

CRITICAL CVSS 9.8 PoC Available

Published: 2026-10-30

Modified: 2026-10-30

Enriched via mock

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AI Threat Summary

CVE-2026-103039 is a critical vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8 affecting the target software. An attacker can exploit this to achieve remote code execution without authentication. Threat hunters should monitor for exploit attempts and apply vendor patches immediately.

Description

The Gravity Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.2 via a Post Custom Field whose input type is List. This is due to GFFormsModel::create_post() passing the submitted value to WordPress' unrestricted global maybe_unserialize() rather than the plugin's own hardened GFCommon::maybe_unserialize(), which was added in 3.1.1 and passes allowed_classes => false precisely to prevent object instantiation. Where the field has a content template enabled, the submitted row reaches that call verbatim. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject a PHP object into post meta. No PHP Object Injection gadget chain is present in the plugin itself; however, if a gadget chain is present via an additional plugin or theme, it could allow the attacker to perform actions such as remote code execution. Where the custom field is mapped to the protected _wp_page_template meta key, WordPress itself supplies the chain: validate_file() accepts non-scalars, WP_Theme::__toString() then resolves an attacker-controlled path, and on hosts with a readable PEAR install and register_argc_argv enabled this yields remote code execution.

Attack Chain

Reconnaissance

Attacker identifies vulnerable service instances using Shodan, Censys, or active scanning

Initial Access

Attacker crafts malicious payload exploiting CVE-2026-103039 to achieve remote code execution

Execution

Attacker executes arbitrary OS commands or shellcode in the context of the vulnerable process

Persistence

Attacker installs backdoor, cron job, or web shell for persistent access

Lateral Movement

Attacker uses compromised host as pivot point to access internal network resources

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application

Initial Access

Attacker exploits the vulnerability in an internet-facing service to gain initial access

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter

Execution

Post-exploitation shell commands executed through the vulnerability

T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

Command and Control

Attacker downloads malware or tools after gaining code execution

Indicators of Compromise

Type	Value	Description
user_agent	`Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; exploit/1.0)`	Generic exploit scanner user agent pattern
url	`/api/vuln-endpoint?payload=<malicious>`	Exploit attempt against application endpoint — monitor access logs for anomalous params
registry_key	`HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\backdoor`	Persistence mechanism after successful RCE

Remediation

1. Apply vendor-supplied security patches immediately. 2. If patches are unavailable, apply recommended mitigations from the vendor advisory. 3. Enable WAF rules or IDS signatures to detect exploitation attempts. 4. Monitor logs for indicators of compromise listed above. 5. Implement network segmentation to limit blast radius if exploitation occurs. 6. Subscribe to vendor security advisories for this product.

Quick Facts

CVE ID	CVE-2026-103039
CVSS Score	9.8
Vector	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
Published	2026-10-30
Exploited	No
CISA KEV	No
PoC	Available

References

External Resources

NVD Entry BleepingComputer The Hacker News