CVE-2026-10035 in Turnkey bbPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2026
The Turnkey bbPress by WeaverTheme plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.1 via deserialization of untrusted input in the wvrbbp_set_to_serialized_values() function (reached through the wvrbbp_save_restore() settings-restore handler). The function reads the raw contents of an administrator-uploaded file and passes them directly to unserialize() without any validation. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to inject a PHP Object. No known POP chain is present in the vulnerable plugin itself; however, if a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it could allow the attacker to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2026
The Turnkey bbPress by WeaverTheme plugin presents a critical PHP Object Injection vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 1.7.1 within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation during the deserialization process within the wvrbbp_set_to_serialized_values() function, which is triggered through the wvrbbp_save_restore() settings-restore handler. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrator-level privileges to manipulate the plugin's behavior by injecting malicious PHP objects into the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin reads raw file contents from administrator-uploaded files and directly passes them to the unserialize() function without any sanitization or validation measures. This creates a dangerous attack vector where an attacker can craft specifically formatted serialized data that, when processed by unserialize(), executes arbitrary code within the context of the web server. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-502 which categorizes deserialization of untrusted data as a critical security weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for WordPress installations using the affected plugin, as it provides authenticated attackers with elevated privileges to perform malicious activities that could compromise entire websites. While no known POP (Points of No Return) chain exists within the vulnerable plugin itself, the presence of such chains in other installed plugins or themes could enable attackers to escalate their privileges further. This vulnerability essentially allows for arbitrary file deletion, sensitive data retrieval, and code execution capabilities that could lead to complete system compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the plugin when available, implementing strict input validation for all user-uploaded content, and employing Web Application Firewalls to detect suspicious serialized data patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices such as avoiding direct deserialization of untrusted data and implementing proper access controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to privilege escalation and command execution, making it particularly dangerous for attackers seeking persistent access to compromised systems.
Administrative users should be cautious about uploading files to the plugin's settings restore functionality and consider disabling unnecessary features that allow file uploads or modifications. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual patterns in serialized data processing and unauthorized administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in WordPress plugins can create significant security risks when combined with other system weaknesses, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security assessments of all installed plugins and themes.