CVE-2026-12274 in Tutor LMS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2026
The Tutor LMS WordPress plugin before 3.9.13 does not verify that the requesting user is allowed to edit a target post before overwriting it in one of its content-builder save handlers, authorizing the request only against an unrelated identifier, allowing authenticated users with instructor-level access to overwrite and take over any post or page on the site, including those owned by administrators.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2026
The Tutor LMS WordPress plugin vulnerability stems from a critical authorization flaw in its content-builder save handlers that affects versions prior to 3.9.13. This security weakness manifests as a lack of proper access control verification during post modification operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism used within the plugin's administrative interfaces where the system fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses legitimate authorization rights to modify the target content. Instead of properly verifying user permissions against the specific post or page being edited, the system only authenticates against an unrelated identifier, effectively bypassing the intended access controls.
The technical implementation of this flaw lies in the plugin's insufficient input validation and authorization checks within its save handler functions. When authenticated users with instructor-level privileges attempt to modify content through the Tutor LMS interface, the system performs authentication checks but does so against an incorrect or irrelevant parameter rather than the actual post ownership or permission structure. This misconfiguration allows malicious actors who have gained instructor access to manipulate the plugin's internal logic and submit requests that target any arbitrary post or page within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, exploiting weak authorization mechanisms that should normally prevent users from modifying content they do not own or lack permissions for.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized modifications as it enables full takeover capabilities for administrative content. Authenticated users with instructor-level access can overwrite any post or page on the site regardless of ownership, including critical administrator-created content such as landing pages, important announcements, or sensitive configuration documents. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress installations relying on Tutor LMS. The implications include potential data integrity compromise, unauthorized content manipulation, and the ability to inject malicious code into high-privilege pages, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for educational institutions and organizations using the plugin.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and represents a classic example of how insufficient access control checks can lead to privilege escalation attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to the principle of least privilege and violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1546 (Event Triggered Execution) as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate user accounts to execute unauthorized modifications. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Tutor LMS version 3.9.13 or later, implementing additional access controls through custom code solutions, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar authorization flaws. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and authorization checks in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content within complex permission structures.