CVE-2026-105876 in Modula Image Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WP Chill Modula Image Gallery modula-best-grid-gallery allows Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data.This issue affects Modula Image Gallery: from n/a through 3.0.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The identified security flaw within the WP Chill Modula Image Gallery plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.0.11, represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms known as Missing Authorization. This vulnerability stems from an insufficient validation of user privileges before executing sensitive operations or serving data resources. In modern web application architectures, particularly those built on the WordPress ecosystem which relies heavily on dynamic content delivery via plugins, strict enforcement of role-based access controls is paramount to prevent unauthorized entities from interacting with administrative functions or accessing restricted datasets. The absence of these checks allows any authenticated user, and potentially unauthenticated users depending on the specific implementation context, to bypass intended security boundaries that should restrict their actions based on their assigned roles within the application.
From a technical perspective, this flaw manifests as an inability for the server-side logic to distinguish between legitimate administrative requests and malicious attempts by lower-privileged users or external attackers. When a request is made to retrieve embedded sensitive data, the application fails to verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary permissions to view that specific information. This lack of authorization check means that the underlying database queries or file system operations are executed without validating the user's identity against an access control list. Consequently, any individual with valid credentials can exploit this gap by crafting specific HTTP requests that target internal endpoints or data structures intended for administrative use only, thereby gaining unauthorized visibility into private content stored within the gallery configuration or associated metadata.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it leads to the disclosure of embedded sensitive data. This could include proprietary images, user-specific configurations, database connection strings if exposed through debug modes, or other confidential information that was not intended for public consumption. The exposure of such data can facilitate further attacks, including social engineering campaigns using leaked personal details, competitive intelligence theft regarding business assets represented in the gallery, or even credential stuffing attempts if sensitive metadata contains hints about system architecture. For organizations relying on this plugin to manage visual content, the breach compromises confidentiality and integrity, potentially violating regulatory compliance standards that mandate strict data protection measures for stored information.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) ID 285, which describes Improper Authorization, where a user is able to access or perform functions they are not entitled to do. Furthermore, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior corresponds to techniques involving Unauthorized Access to Resources and potentially Data from Information Repositories if the sensitive data includes structured database entries. The exploitation vector typically involves direct network interaction with the web application interface, allowing attackers to enumerate accessible resources without needing complex injection payloads or buffer overflow exploits, making it a straightforward yet high-impact threat for administrators who may underestimate the risk of simple permission misconfigurations in third-party plugins.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate action is required by upgrading the Modula Image Gallery plugin to version 3.0.12 or any subsequent release where the authorization checks have been properly implemented and tested. Administrators should verify that all instances of the plugin are updated across their WordPress environments. In addition to patching, it is advisable to review server-side logging mechanisms to detect any prior exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual patterns in access logs related to gallery endpoints. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules tailored to block unauthorized API calls or suspicious request structures can provide an additional layer of defense while the upgrade process is completed. Regular security audits and penetration testing should also be conducted to ensure that similar authorization gaps do not exist elsewhere in the application stack, reinforcing the principle of least privilege across all user roles.