CVE-2026-104757 in Import and export users and customers Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Editor Privilege Escalation in Import and export users and customers <= 2.5.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as an Editor Privilege Escalation within the import and export functionality of user and customer management systems affects versions up to 2.5.5 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental principle of least privilege in web application architectures. This issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms during the processing of bulk data operations, specifically when administrators or editors utilize CSV-based tools to add, update, or modify user accounts and customer profiles. In these systems, role assignments are typically managed through specific form fields or database columns that dictate a users permission level, such as subscriber, editor, administrator, or super-administrator. The flaw arises because the import engine fails to adequately validate or sanitize the role data provided in the input file before committing it to the backend database. Consequently, an attacker with lower-level privileges, specifically those holding Editor access rights, can manipulate the structure of their uploaded CSV files to include fields that assign elevated roles to themselves or other compromised accounts.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-269, which denotes Improper Privilege Control, and more specifically aligns with CWE-434, Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type if the exploit relies on uploading malicious scripts, though in this context it primarily relates to data injection via structured import files. The attack vector allows an authenticated user who possesses Editor privileges to bypass intended restrictions by simply editing a standard export file or creating a new CSV document that includes columns for role assignment. When the system processes this file, it trusts the input without verifying whether the current session has the authority to perform such high-level modifications. This lack of server-side validation means that the application blindly accepts and applies the role changes specified in the import data, effectively granting the attacker administrative capabilities despite their initial low-privilege status.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables a complete compromise of the web application environment through privilege escalation. Once an attacker elevates their privileges to Administrator or Super-Administrator level, they gain unrestricted access to sensitive configuration settings, user data, and potentially server-level controls depending on how the backend integrates with underlying infrastructure. This can lead to unauthorized modification of site configurations, theft of personally identifiable information stored in customer records, defacement of public-facing content, or further exploitation through other administrative features that are otherwise protected from lower-privileged users. In environments where multiple editors manage content, this flaw allows for lateral movement and persistent access, as the attacker can create backdoor accounts with high privileges to ensure continued entry even if their original account is discovered and disabled.
This behavior closely mirrors techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078, Valid Accounts, specifically focusing on privilege escalation within cloud or web applications. The exploitation does not require complex binary exploits or memory corruption; instead, it relies on social engineering or simple file manipulation to trick the application into executing unauthorized administrative actions. This simplicity makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios where security awareness may be low among content managers who routinely handle bulk data imports for marketing or customer service purposes. The ease of exploitation means that even novice attackers can leverage this flaw to gain significant control over the target system, turning a routine business process into a critical entry point for compromise.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing strict server-side validation and enforcing role-based access controls at every stage of data processing. Developers should ensure that any field related to user roles or permissions is ignored during import operations unless the initiating request originates from an account with explicit administrative privileges, regardless of what data is present in the input file. It is crucial to decouple the ability to upload files from the ability to modify critical security attributes within those files. Additionally, implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring for bulk user modifications can help detect anomalous activity patterns indicative of such attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular code reviews focusing on access control logic in data import modules and ensure that all third-party plugins or core functionalities are updated to versions where this validation gap has been patched by the vendor.