CVE-2026-110360 in Ajax Search Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WPdreams Ajax Search Lite ajax-search-lite allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Ajax Search Lite: from n/a through 4.14.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the WPdreams Ajax Search Lite plugin, specifically affecting versions ranging from initial releases up to version 4.14.5. This vulnerability is classified as a missing authorization issue, which fundamentally represents an insecure direct object reference or broken access control mechanism where the application fails to properly verify that the user initiating a request has the necessary permissions to perform it. In the context of web applications and WordPress plugins, this typically means that sensitive administrative functions or data retrieval operations are accessible via unauthenticated HTTP requests without requiring valid session tokens or capability checks. The core technical flaw lies in the improper configuration of access control security levels for specific AJAX endpoints exposed by the plugin. These endpoints likely handle search queries or related metadata processing but do not enforce sufficient validation to distinguish between legitimate user interactions and malicious exploitation attempts.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access controls to perform actions that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or authorized users. Because the authorization check is missing or bypassed, an attacker can craft specific HTTP requests to interact with these endpoints directly. This could lead to unauthorized data disclosure if the search functionality returns sensitive information such as user profiles, private posts, or configuration details that are not intended for public view. Alternatively, depending on how the endpoint processes input, it might enable further exploitation vectors such as server-side request forgery or even remote code execution if combined with other vulnerabilities like improper input sanitization. The absence of proper authorization checks means that any internet-facing WordPress installation running this plugin is potentially exposed to automated scanning and targeted attacks seeking to enumerate site structure or extract confidential data without needing valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information leakage. It undermines the integrity and confidentiality guarantees provided by the web application's security model. Attackers can use this flaw to map out internal resources, identify high-value targets within the database, or potentially disrupt service availability through resource exhaustion if the search functionality is computationally expensive and lacks rate limiting tied to user identity. For organizations relying on WordPress for content management or e-commerce operations, such a breach could result in significant reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory penalties under data protection laws like GDPR or CCPA due to the exposure of personal identifiable information. The ease of exploitation further amplifies the risk, as automated tools commonly used by threat actors can rapidly identify and exploit these misconfigurations across thousands of sites simultaneously.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate action is required from site administrators and developers. The primary recommendation is to update the WPdreams Ajax Search Lite plugin to a version later than 4.14.5 where the vendor has presumably patched the authorization logic. If updating is not immediately feasible due to compatibility constraints with other plugins or themes, temporary mitigations should be implemented at the web server level. This includes configuring Web Application Firewalls to block suspicious patterns associated with unauthorized AJAX requests targeting these specific endpoints. Additionally, implementing strict rate limiting on search-related API calls can help mitigate denial-of-service risks and slow down automated exploitation attempts. Developers reviewing custom code or integrations involving this plugin should ensure that all subsequent interactions enforce robust authentication checks using WordPress capabilities such as current_user_can to verify user permissions before processing any sensitive data requests. Regular security audits and penetration testing are also advised to identify similar access control weaknesses in other components of the web application infrastructure.