CVE-2026-1369 identifies an Open Redirect vulnerability (CWE-601) in the Conditional CAPTCHA WordPress plugin versions through 4.0.0. The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not properly validate a URL parameter before redirecting users to the URL specified by that parameter. This lack of validation allows an attacker to craft malicious URLs that appear to originate from a legitimate site using the Conditional CAPTCHA plugin but redirect victims to arbitrary external sites controlled by the attacker. Such open redirects are commonly abused in phishing campaigns to bypass URL filters and increase user trust, potentially leading to credential theft, malware distribution, or other social engineering attacks. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction beyond clicking a crafted link. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin increases the risk of future exploitation. The plugin's failure to sanitize or restrict redirect URLs is the root cause, and no official patch or update link is currently provided. This vulnerability highlights the importance of validating redirect parameters to ensure they point only to trusted internal locations or are otherwise sanitized to prevent abuse.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is the facilitation of phishing and social engineering attacks by leveraging the trust users place in legitimate websites. Attackers can use the open redirect to send users to malicious sites that may harvest credentials, deliver malware, or conduct fraudulent activities. This can lead to compromised user accounts, data breaches, and reputational damage for affected organizations. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise server integrity or availability, the indirect consequences can be severe, especially for organizations with high user interaction or sensitive data. The ease of exploitation—requiring only a crafted URL and no authentication—makes it accessible to a wide range of attackers. Organizations relying on the Conditional CAPTCHA plugin on public-facing WordPress sites are at risk, particularly those in sectors like e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government where user trust is critical.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately update the Conditional CAPTCHA plugin to a patched version once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should implement strict validation of redirect parameters by allowing only internal URLs or whitelisted domains. This can be done by modifying the plugin code or using additional WordPress security plugins that enforce redirect restrictions. Employing web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns can provide temporary protection. Additionally, educating users about the risks of clicking suspicious links and implementing multi-factor authentication can reduce the impact of potential phishing attacks leveraging this vulnerability. Regular security audits of plugins and monitoring for unusual redirect behavior are also recommended to detect exploitation attempts early.