CVE-2026-116853 in GiveWP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in GiveWP <= 4.19.0.1 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unbroken access control issue within GiveWP, specifically affecting versions up to and including 4.19.0.1, represents a critical failure in the application's authorization mechanisms. This class of security flaw allows attackers who have not authenticated or logged into the system to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized users only. In the context of WordPress-based donation platforms like GiveWP, such vulnerabilities can lead to severe consequences including unauthorized modification of donor information, manipulation of campaign settings, and potentially full administrative takeover if combined with other weaknesses. The core technical flaw lies in the improper enforcement of access controls on specific endpoints or functions within the plugin's codebase. These endpoints likely fail to adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges before processing sensitive requests. This oversight enables remote attackers to exploit these unprotected interfaces directly through crafted HTTP requests, bypassing standard authentication checks entirely.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and often intersects with CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key if the exploitation relies on manipulating identifiers such as post IDs or user roles to access resources belonging to other users or administrators. The operational impact of this flaw is significant because it undermines the fundamental trust model of the web application. Attackers can potentially view sensitive donor data, which may include personally identifiable information and financial details, violating privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA depending on the jurisdiction. Furthermore, if the vulnerability allows for state-changing operations like creating new campaigns, modifying donation goals, or altering email templates without authentication, it compromises the integrity of the platform's core functionality. This can lead to reputational damage for organizations relying on GiveWP and financial loss through fraudulent activities or disruption of fundraising efforts.
The exploitation vector typically involves sending specially crafted requests to specific API endpoints or AJAX handlers within the plugin that do not properly check user capabilities using WordPress functions such as current_user_can() or capability checks before executing logic. This lack of server-side validation means that any individual on the internet can interact with these features, effectively treating them as public resources when they should be restricted. The persistence of this vulnerability in versions up to 4.19.0.1 suggests a gap between security testing and release cycles or an oversight during code reviews where privilege escalation paths were not fully mapped against all available entry points. It highlights the importance of rigorous input validation and strict authorization checks on every action that modifies state or exposes sensitive data, regardless of whether the endpoint is intended for internal use only.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action must be taken by upgrading to a patched version of GiveWP where these access control issues have been resolved. Administrators should ensure they are running the latest stable release as developers typically address such critical flaws in subsequent updates following public disclosure or private reporting via responsible disclosure channels. In addition to updating software, organizations should implement defense-in-depth strategies including web application firewalls that can detect and block anomalous request patterns indicative of access control bypass attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authorization logic are also recommended to identify similar weaknesses in custom code or other plugins integrated with the WordPress environment. Monitoring server logs for unusual activity related to donation forms, user profiles, and administrative settings can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts. Ultimately, maintaining up-to-date software components is the most effective control against known vulnerabilities like this unauthenticated broken access control issue.