CVE-2026-119367 in The Events Calendar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Liquid Web / StellarWP The Events Calendar the-events-calendar allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects The Events Calendar: from n/a through 6.18.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the popular WordPress plugin, The Events Calendar developed by StellarWP and distributed under the Liquid Web brand. This vulnerability is classified as a Missing Authorization error, which fundamentally represents an insecure direct object reference or broken access control mechanism where the application fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user has sufficient privileges to perform specific actions on requested resources. Specifically, this issue affects versions of The Events Calendar ranging from its initial release up through version 6.18.2. In a secure implementation, any request that modifies data or accesses sensitive administrative functions must be validated against the current session's permission levels. However, in these affected versions, certain endpoints or functionality within the plugin do not adequately enforce these checks, allowing an attacker to bypass intended restrictions and execute operations as if they were an administrator or another privileged user role.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of access control policies during request processing. When a user interacts with The Events Calendar features such as creating events, managing venues, or modifying settings, the backend logic fails to cross-reference the incoming HTTP request parameters against the authorized capabilities associated with the current user's account type. This oversight allows unauthenticated users or lower-privileged users, such as subscribers or contributors who typically have limited write access, to escalate their privileges effectively by manipulating API calls or form submissions intended for administrators. The core of the flaw lies in the absence of robust server-side authorization checks that would otherwise reject requests originating from unauthorized sources. This type of defect is commonly associated with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, highlighting a critical failure in the application's security architecture to enforce role-based access controls consistently across all entry points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability can be severe depending on the deployment context and the sensitivity of the data managed by The Events Calendar plugin. An attacker who successfully exploits this missing authorization flaw could gain unauthorized administrative access to the WordPress installation hosting the vulnerable plugin. This level of access typically allows for full control over the website, including the ability to modify content, install malicious plugins or themes, alter database structures, and potentially execute arbitrary code if combined with other vulnerabilities such as file upload flaws or SQL injection points present in third-party extensions. Furthermore, since The Events Calendar often handles public-facing event data that may include personal information of attendees or organizers, an attacker could also exfiltrate sensitive user data, leading to privacy violations and potential regulatory non-compliance under frameworks like GDPR or CCPA. The ability to manipulate calendar events without authorization can also disrupt business operations by altering schedules, removing critical listings, or injecting fraudulent event details that damage the organization's reputation.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running versions of The Events Calendar prior to 6.18.3 must immediately apply the official security patch released by StellarWP. It is crucial to verify the installed version through the WordPress dashboard and ensure that automatic updates are enabled or manually triggered as soon as the fixed release becomes available. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to compatibility concerns with other plugins, administrators should consider implementing a Web Application Firewall WAF rule set specifically designed to block suspicious requests targeting known vulnerable endpoints associated with The Events Calendar API functions. Additionally, enforcing strict role-based access control policies at the WordPress level and auditing user permissions can help limit the blast radius if an exploitation attempt occurs. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authorization bypasses are recommended to identify similar weaknesses in custom code or other plugins that may share this architectural flaw. Maintaining up-to-date software components is the most effective defense against such vulnerabilities, as developers continuously address these access control gaps through rigorous code review processes aligned with industry standards like OWASP Top Ten guidelines for broken access control prevention.