# CVE-2026-109221: Groundhogg arbitrary file deletion via copy_file

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109221-the-groundhogg-crm-newsletters-and-marketing-automation-plugin  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-16. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-109221 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.1 · Published 2026-10-16

Groundhogg is a WordPress CRM and marketing automation plugin that handles contact data and file imports. Authenticated users with Sales Representative-level access can delete arbitrary files on the server through the copy_file function, potentially leading to remote code execution by deleting critical files like wp-config.php. This vulnerability affects all versions up to 4.9.3 and is exploitable by any user with the default import_contacts permission granted to the Sales Representative role.

Technologies: [Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/groundhogg-crm-newsletters-and-marketing-automation). Vendors: [Groundhogg](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/groundhogg).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-109221 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-109221 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-109221?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 16 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation up to and including 4.9.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-109221?** Yes: fixed in 4.9.4. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-109221 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-109221?** Check whether you run Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters or and Marketing Automation at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 4.9.4

## Technical details

The copy_file function in Groundhogg lacks sufficient file path validation, allowing authenticated attackers with the import_contacts capability to specify arbitrary file paths for deletion. The vulnerability affects CSV imports, the REST API, and webhooks that invoke the copy_file function. The fix, implemented in version 4.9.4, restricts file operations to the uploads directory and validates copyable URLs through a new is_copyable_url() check.

## Affected products

- Groundhogg Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation up to and including 4.9.3

## Timeline

- 2026-10-16: disclosed
- 2026-10-13: patched

## References

- [https://github.com/groundhoggwp/groundhogg/commit/e319e4a849bfbb07cccfbac8558ad6bf07a7fdc0](https://github.com/groundhoggwp/groundhogg/commit/e319e4a849bfbb07cccfbac8558ad6bf07a7fdc0)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/admin/tools/tools-page.php](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/groundhogg/tags/4.9.3/admin/tools/tools-page.php)

## Related threats

- [Groundhogg privilege escalation via contact user reassignment](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-104725-the-groundhogg-crm-newsletters-and-marketing-automation-plugin)
- [Groundhogg privilege escalation via contact identity rebinding](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97644-the-groundhogg-crm-newsletters-and-marketing-automation-plugin)
- [Groundhogg CRM unauthenticated stored cross-site scripting in web form fields](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81660-groundhogg-crm-unauthenticated-stored-cross-site-scripting-in-web)