CVE-2026-110896 in Passster Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WP Chill Passster content-protector allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Passster: from n/a through 4.3.18.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within the WP Chill Passster content protector plugin, specifically affecting versions ranging from no specific lower bound up to version 4.3.18. This flaw is categorized under CWE-269, which denotes Improper Privilege Assignment or Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. In web application security, access control determines whether a user has permission to perform an action on a resource. When this mechanism fails due to missing authorization checks, it allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions and interact with protected content without proper authentication or elevated privileges. The core technical flaw lies in the plugin's inability to verify if the requesting entity possesses the necessary permissions before granting access to restricted data or functionality. This absence of server-side validation means that any user, including unauthenticated visitors, can potentially manipulate requests to view sensitive information or execute administrative functions intended for authorized users only.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly compromises the confidentiality and integrity of protected content. Since Passster is designed specifically as a content protection tool, its primary value proposition relies on restricting access based on user roles or subscription status. The lack of proper authorization checks undermines this fundamental security posture, allowing malicious actors to scrape private articles, download restricted media files, or bypass paywalls that are supposed to be enforced by the plugin's logic. This not only leads to direct data leakage but also erodes trust in the platform's ability to safeguard intellectual property and sensitive user information. Attackers can exploit this flaw using simple HTTP request manipulation tools, sending requests with modified parameters or headers to access endpoints that should return a 403 Forbidden error instead of delivering the protected content successfully.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data exposure, as they may facilitate further attacks such as cross-site scripting if the exposed content contains malicious scripts, or provide reconnaissance information for more sophisticated intrusion attempts. By understanding which resources are accessible without authorization, an attacker can map out the application's structure and identify additional potential weaknesses. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials or bypass authentication entirely to gain unauthorized access. Furthermore, it relates to T1530, Data from Cloud Storage Objects, if the protected content includes files stored in cloud environments accessible via direct links generated by the plugin's logic when authorization is not properly enforced on those endpoints.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate action must be taken by administrators of websites running affected versions of WP Chill Passster. The most effective remediation strategy is to upgrade the plugin to a version where the access control mechanisms have been corrected and thoroughly tested for proper authorization checks. Until an update is available or if upgrading is not immediately feasible, site owners should consider disabling the content protection features provided by this specific plugin and relying on alternative security measures such as server-level authentication directives like .htaccess password protection or Web Application Firewall rules that enforce strict access policies based on IP addresses or user roles. Additionally, implementing robust logging and monitoring solutions can help detect attempts to exploit this authorization bypass in real-time, allowing for rapid incident response. Regular security audits and penetration testing of web applications are essential practices to ensure that access control logic remains resilient against evolving attack vectors and configuration drifts over time.