CVE-2026-14185 in WPBot Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2026
The WPBot WordPress plugin before 8.2.0 does not perform a capability or nonce check in one of its retrieval-augmented-generation settings handlers, allowing authenticated users with subscriber-level access to modify the WPBot WordPress plugin before 8.2.0's configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2026
The WPBot WordPress plugin vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the affected software. This issue affects versions prior to 8.2.0 and specifically targets the plugin's retrieval-augmented-generation settings handler. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability verification and nonce validation mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface. Authentication context is not properly enforced, allowing users who possess only subscriber-level privileges to manipulate core configuration parameters that should typically be restricted to administrators or higher-privileged roles.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to validate user permissions before processing configuration changes through its settings handler. This oversight creates a path for privilege escalation attacks where unprivileged users can modify critical plugin settings. The vulnerability operates under CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts, as it exploits legitimate user access to perform unauthorized modifications. The absence of nonce checks further compounds the risk by eliminating protection against cross-site request forgery attacks, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious requests on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes and can lead to significant security implications for WordPress installations. Subscribers with access to the affected plugin can potentially alter AI-generated content parameters, modify bot behavior settings, or manipulate data processing configurations that could affect content delivery and user interactions. This unauthorized modification capability may enable attackers to deploy malicious content generation patterns, manipulate search results, or redirect automated responses, all while maintaining their subscriber-level privileges. The vulnerability essentially undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing users with minimal access rights to make changes that should require elevated permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 8.2.0 or later where the authorization checks have been properly implemented. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any unauthorized changes that may have occurred due to this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing role-based access controls, monitoring user activities within plugin administrative interfaces, and ensuring that all WordPress plugins undergo regular security assessments. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access control policies that limit subscriber privileges to only necessary functionality, while also establishing automated vulnerability scanning processes to identify similar authorization flaws in other components of their web applications.