CVE-2026-118086 in WP Base Booking Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Subscriber Privilege Escalation in WP BASE Booking <= 6.5.2 versions.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as Subscriber Privilege Escalation within the WP BASE Booking plugin, affecting versions up to and including 6.5.2, represents a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental access control mechanisms of WordPress-based web applications. This issue allows users with low-privileged accounts, specifically those assigned the subscriber role, to perform actions or access resources intended exclusively for administrators or higher-level roles such as editors or authors. In typical WordPress architectures, privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can serve as a stepping stone for attackers to gain full control over the website's backend, leading to complete system compromise. The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient verification of user capabilities during specific administrative operations handled by the plugin. When processing requests related to booking management, such as creating, editing, or deleting reservations, the application fails to adequately validate whether the initiating request originates from a user with sufficient permissions. This oversight allows an authenticated attacker to manipulate HTTP parameters and execute unauthorized functions that modify critical site data or configuration settings without proper authorization checks.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns closely with CWE-269, which classifies Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities where software does not properly assign privileges to actors based on their intended roles. The operational impact of such a vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker exploiting this weakness can manipulate booking data, potentially leading to financial losses if the system processes payments or reservations incorrectly. Furthermore, by gaining administrative-level access through privilege escalation, an attacker could install malicious plugins, modify theme files, or inject persistent backdoors into the website's codebase. This level of control enables long-term unauthorized access and facilitates further attacks against other users who interact with the booking system, such as customers making appointments or payments. The breach also compromises data integrity and confidentiality, violating trust expectations for both site owners and end-users relying on the platform for secure transactional activities.
In terms of industry-standard threat modeling, this vulnerability maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, specifically focusing on Local Account manipulation or escalation within a specific application context. The attacker leverages valid but low-privileged credentials to escalate their status, bypassing intended security boundaries. This behavior is characteristic of post-exploitation phases where an adversary seeks to expand their footprint after initial access has been established through other means, such as phishing or weak password authentication. The lack of robust server-side validation for role-based access control (RBAC) exemplifies a common weakness in many WordPress plugins that prioritize functionality over security rigor during development cycles.
To mitigate this vulnerability and restore secure operations, immediate action is required by website administrators and developers. The primary remediation step involves upgrading the WP BASE Booking plugin to version 6.5.3 or later, where these permission checks have been corrected to ensure that only users with appropriate administrative capabilities can execute sensitive booking management functions. If an upgrade is not immediately feasible due to compatibility constraints, temporary mitigations should include restricting access to the WordPress admin area using IP whitelisting for trusted networks and enforcing multi-factor authentication for all administrator accounts to reduce the risk of credential theft leading to exploitation. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules tailored to detect anomalous privilege escalation attempts can provide an additional layer of defense by blocking malicious requests that attempt to manipulate booking parameters without proper authorization tokens or session validation. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on access control logic are essential to prevent similar flaws in future updates, ensuring adherence to secure coding standards such as OWASP Top 10 guidelines regarding broken access control.