CVE-2026-18050 in Events Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2026
The Events Manager WordPress plugin before 7.4 does not perform any authorization check on a REST route that serves temporarily stored file uploads, allowing unauthenticated users to retrieve another user's in-progress upload when its temporary identifier is known. The identifier is high-entropy, is disclosed only to the uploader, and the file is removed on submission or by a scheduled cleanup, so a cross-user read is not achievable by guessing alone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2026
The Events Manager WordPress plugin version 7.4 and earlier contains a critical authorization flaw that enables unauthenticated attackers to access temporary file uploads belonging to other users through a vulnerable REST API endpoint. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication checks on a specific route designed to serve temporarily stored file uploads during the upload process. The affected endpoint operates within the plugin's REST API framework, providing access to temporary files that are stored in a transient state before final submission or cleanup.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a REST route that exposes temporary file storage without verifying user credentials or permissions. While the system does implement some protective measures such as high-entropy identifiers that are only disclosed to the legitimate uploader and automatic cleanup mechanisms that remove files upon successful submission or scheduled maintenance, these safeguards prove insufficient against unauthorized access attempts. The high-entropy nature of identifiers, although effective against brute force attacks, does not prevent an attacker who has obtained a valid identifier from accessing the temporary file data, creating a cross-user read scenario.
This vulnerability operates under the context of improper access control as classified by CWE-285, specifically manifesting as an authorization bypass in the REST API layer of the WordPress plugin. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure since unauthorized users can potentially access sensitive data that was intended to remain private during the upload process, including potentially confidential or personal information contained within uploaded files. The attack vector requires knowledge of a valid temporary identifier, making it more sophisticated than simple enumeration attacks but still exploitable through social engineering or other means of identifier acquisition.
The security implications of this vulnerability are significant as it represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper authentication mechanisms within the plugin's API design. It allows for unauthorized data access that could potentially lead to privacy violations, data exposure, and information leakage. The attack requires an attacker to obtain a valid temporary file identifier through methods such as social engineering, session manipulation, or other reconnaissance techniques, but once obtained, the access is unrestricted.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper authentication checks for all REST API endpoints that handle temporary file storage operations. The plugin should enforce strict authorization requirements before allowing access to temporary uploads, ensuring that only authenticated users can access their own temporary files. Additionally, the system should implement more robust session management and token validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access even if identifiers are obtained. Organizations should update to Events Manager version 7.4 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper access control implementation. The fix should align with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential access and T1078.004 for valid accounts, emphasizing the importance of proper authentication controls in API implementations.