CVE-2026-103692 in Frontend Dashboard Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/08/2026
The Frontend Dashboard WordPress plugin before 3.0.5 does not perform any authorisation or nonce check on actions available to unauthenticated users that call an attacker-chosen PHP function or class method with the request data, allowing unauthenticated users to take over any account, including administrators.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2026
The vulnerability identified in Frontend Dashboard versions prior to 3.0.5 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within WordPress plugin architecture. This flaw stems from an absence of proper authorization checks and nonce validation for actions exposed to unauthenticated users. In secure web application design, particularly within the WordPress ecosystem, any action that modifies state or performs sensitive operations must verify both the identity of the requester through authentication tokens and the integrity of the request via nonces. The lack of these safeguards means that the plugin exposes endpoints where arbitrary PHP functions or class methods can be invoked by external actors without verifying their permissions or intent. This fundamental oversight transforms standard functionality into a powerful attack vector, as it bypasses the core security model intended to protect administrative and user-specific data.
From a technical perspective, this issue allows for unauthenticated function execution, which is classified under CWE-284 Improper Access Control. By not checking if the requester has the necessary privileges or validating that the request originated from a legitimate source via a nonce, the application effectively grants full control over its internal logic to anyone with network access. An attacker can craft specific HTTP requests containing malicious parameters that map directly to vulnerable PHP methods within the plugin's codebase. Because WordPress plugins often have elevated capabilities relative to standard user roles, exploiting this flaw enables an adversary to execute commands in the context of the web server or database administrator, depending on how the underlying functions are implemented and what data they interact with.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily due to its potential for complete account takeover. Since the plugin does not restrict these actions based on user roles, unauthenticated attackers can manipulate administrative accounts, leading to a full compromise of the WordPress installation. This includes the ability to create new administrator users, modify existing site configurations, inject malicious code into posts or themes, and exfiltrate sensitive database contents such as user credentials and personal information. The ease with which these actions can be performed means that automated scanning tools could rapidly identify vulnerable instances across the internet, leading to widespread exploitation for botnet recruitment, defacement, or further lateral movement within a network infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns closely with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Initial Access and Privilege Escalation, specifically those involving web application attacks where attackers exploit misconfigurations in access controls. The ability to invoke arbitrary functions without authentication is akin to Remote Code Execution (RCE) vectors found in other frameworks like CVE-2019-8442 or similar WordPress plugin vulnerabilities. It highlights the critical importance of implementing strict input validation and output encoding alongside robust authorization checks. Attackers typically leverage this by sending crafted POST requests with specific action parameters that trigger the vulnerable methods, effectively turning legitimate administrative features into tools for unauthorized control.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and architectural review. Administrators should update Frontend Dashboard to version 3.0.5 or later, where these authorization checks have presumably been implemented by the developers. For environments where updating is not immediately feasible, temporary mitigations include restricting access to WordPress admin directories via IP whitelisting if applicable, although this does not fully address plugin-level vulnerabilities exposed on public-facing pages. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules designed to detect and block suspicious patterns of unauthenticated function calls can provide an additional layer of defense. Long-term remediation requires developers to adhere to secure coding standards that mandate nonce verification for all state-changing operations and enforce role-based access control checks before executing any privileged functions, ensuring that only authenticated users with appropriate permissions can interact with sensitive plugin features.