CVE-2026-103075 in Hustle Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WPMU DEV Hustle wordpress-popup allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Hustle: from n/a through 7.8.14.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the WPMU DEV Hustle plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions ranging from initial releases up to version 7.8.14.2. This vulnerability is classified as a missing authorization issue, which fundamentally represents an improper access control failure where the application fails to verify that the user initiating a request has the necessary permissions to perform the action or access the resource in question. In the context of web applications like WordPress plugins, this typically means that sensitive administrative functions or data manipulation endpoints are accessible to users who have not been authenticated as administrators or lack specific privileges required for such operations. The core technical flaw lies in the absence of robust server-side validation checks before executing critical logic, allowing any actor with network connectivity to interact with these protected resources directly through crafted HTTP requests rather than via the intended user interface.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability enables an attacker to bypass security controls that are supposed to restrict access based on role-based permissions. By exploiting incorrectly configured access control levels, an unauthorized individual can potentially perform actions such as creating, modifying, or deleting popups, accessing subscriber data, or altering plugin settings without valid credentials. This type of flaw is commonly associated with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, and often aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, if the attacker leverages low-level user accounts to escalate privileges or access restricted areas. The exploitation does not require complex injection techniques but rather relies on manipulating request parameters or endpoints that should be gated by authentication middleware which is either missing or incorrectly implemented in the affected code paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability can vary significantly depending on the specific actions exposed and the sensitivity of the data managed by the Hustle plugin. If an attacker gains unauthorized access to administrative functions, they could inject malicious scripts into popup content, leading to cross-site scripting attacks against site visitors who view those popups. Alternatively, attackers might extract sensitive customer information stored within the plugin’s database tables or disrupt service availability by deleting critical marketing assets. In severe cases, this lack of authorization can serve as a stepping stone for further compromise, allowing the attacker to establish persistence on the server or pivot to other parts of the WordPress installation that may have weaker security postures. The presence of such vulnerabilities undermines the integrity and confidentiality guarantees expected from enterprise-grade content management systems.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required by updating the WPMU DEV Hustle plugin to a version later than 7.8.14.2, where these access control checks have been properly implemented and validated by the developers. Administrators should also review their WordPress user roles and capabilities to ensure that only trusted individuals have administrator-level access to the dashboard. Implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious requests targeting known vulnerable endpoints before they reach the application logic. Regular auditing of plugin code for proper authorization checks, particularly on any custom or third-party integrations, is essential to maintain a robust security posture against improper access control vulnerabilities in dynamic web environments.