CVE-2026-119485 in Dokan Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in weDevs Dokan dokan-lite allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Dokan: from n/a through 5.3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within the weDevs Dokan plugin, specifically affecting versions ranging from initial releases up to version 5.3.2. This flaw is categorized under CWE-862, which denotes Missing Authorization, and aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as it allows an attacker to bypass intended security restrictions by leveraging improperly configured access control levels. In the context of Dokan, a popular multi-vendor marketplace solution for WordPress, such vulnerabilities are particularly severe because they can expose sensitive administrative functions or vendor-specific data to unauthorized users, potentially leading to significant business disruption and data breaches.
The technical root cause lies in the application's inability to properly verify user permissions before executing specific actions or rendering certain interface elements. When a request is made to perform an operation that requires elevated privileges, such as managing store settings, processing refunds, or accessing vendor dashboards, the system fails to adequately validate whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary role-based access rights. This oversight allows attackers who have obtained valid credentials for lower-privilege accounts, such as customers or basic vendors, to manipulate parameters in HTTP requests and execute administrative functions intended only for super administrators or high-level store managers. The lack of server-side authorization checks means that client-side restrictions can be easily bypassed using standard web proxy tools like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it undermines the fundamental trust model of multi-vendor marketplaces where distinct roles must remain strictly segregated. An attacker exploiting this flaw could potentially modify store configurations to redirect payments, alter product listings to display malicious content, or access sensitive customer data including names, addresses, and purchase histories. Furthermore, if the vulnerability allows for arbitrary file uploads or code execution through misconfigured settings, it could lead to full server compromise. The ability to escalate privileges from a low-privilege account to an administrative level effectively grants the attacker complete control over the WordPress installation and its associated database, facilitating further attacks such as defacement, SEO spam injection, or lateral movement within the hosting environment.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation through software updates and rigorous access control auditing. The primary recommendation is to upgrade the Dokan plugin to version 5.3.3 or later, where these authorization checks have been corrected by the developers. For organizations unable to update immediately due to compatibility constraints with other plugins or custom code, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can provide temporary protection by filtering out malicious requests that attempt to exploit missing authorization logic. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict role-based access control policies, ensuring that only essential users are assigned administrative privileges and regularly auditing user accounts for any anomalies in activity logs. Regular security assessments using static application security testing tools can help identify similar gaps in custom code or other plugins integrated with the marketplace infrastructure.