CVE-2026-0727 in Accordion and Accordion Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2026
The Accordion and Accordion Slider plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.5. This is due to the plugin not properly verifying that a user is authorized to perform an action in the 'wp_aas_save_attachment_data' and 'wp_aas_get_attachment_edit_form' functions. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor level access and above, to read and modify attachment metadata including file paths, titles, captions, alt text, and custom links for any attachment on the site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-0727 affects the Accordion and Accordion Slider plugin for WordPress, presenting a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security model of the content management system. This issue exists in all versions up to and including 1.4.5, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who have deployed this particular plugin. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control verification mechanisms within the plugin's core functionality, specifically within two key functions that handle attachment data operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions when processing attachment metadata modifications. The 'wp_aas_save_attachment_data' and 'wp_aas_get_attachment_edit_form' functions do not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization levels to perform their intended actions. This weakness creates a pathway for authenticated attackers who have contributor-level privileges or higher to bypass normal WordPress access controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting WordPress's media attachment system where users can manipulate metadata associated with uploaded files.
The operational impact of this authorization bypass is significant as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive attachment metadata across the entire WordPress installation. Contributors and users with higher privileges can exploit this flaw to read and modify file paths, titles, captions, alt text, and custom links for any attachment on the site. This capability extends beyond simple metadata manipulation to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as creating backdoors through malicious file paths, injecting malicious links, or altering content to deceive users. The vulnerability affects all attachment types within the WordPress media library, making it a comprehensive threat to media integrity.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique, specifically under the 'Modify System Process' and 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' domains. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites since it only necessitates contributor-level access, which is often more easily obtained than administrator-level credentials. This makes it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers who have gained access through other means or through social engineering attacks targeting lower-level user accounts.
Security mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization bypass vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to correct the insufficient access control checks. Administrators should also implement additional monitoring of attachment-related API endpoints and user activities within the WordPress admin interface. Network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential damage from compromised accounts. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes, combined with automated vulnerability scanning tools, can help identify similar authorization bypass issues in other components of the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and the necessity of thorough security testing for all plugin and theme components.