CVE-2026-3226 in LearnPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2026
The LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized email notification triggering due to missing capability checks on all 10 functions in the SendEmailAjax class in all versions up to, and including, 4.3.2.8. The AbstractAjax::catch_lp_ajax() dispatcher verifies a wp_rest nonce but performs no current_user_can() check before dispatching to handler functions. The wp_rest nonce is embedded in the frontend JavaScript for all authenticated users. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to trigger arbitrary email notifications to admins, instructors, and users, enabling email flooding, social engineering, and impersonation of admin decisions regarding instructor requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-3226 affects the LearnPress WordPress LMS plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.3.2.8. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the plugin by allowing authenticated users to bypass normal access controls for email notification functionality. The issue stems from insufficient capability validation within the SendEmailAjax class, which contains ten distinct functions that handle email dispatch operations. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper authorization and weak nonce validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through legitimate plugin functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the plugin's AbstractAjax::catch_lp_ajax() dispatcher mechanism which, while properly verifying wp_rest nonces, fails to implement proper user capability checks before executing handler functions. This design flaw allows attackers to leverage the frontend JavaScript that contains the wp_rest nonce, which is accessible to all authenticated users regardless of their role level. The nonce validation alone is insufficient to prevent unauthorized access since it does not verify whether the requesting user possesses the appropriate permissions to execute the specific email notification functions. This pattern aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and demonstrates how nonce validation without proper capability checks creates a security loophole.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant security risks including email flooding, social engineering attacks, and impersonation of administrative decisions. An attacker with Subscriber-level access or higher can trigger email notifications to administrators, instructors, and other users, potentially overwhelming email systems and enabling phishing campaigns or misinformation dissemination. The ability to impersonate administrative actions regarding instructor requests creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can manipulate user perceptions about course approvals or instructor assignments. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through email, and T1078, which addresses valid accounts for lateral movement and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper capability checks within the plugin's AJAX dispatcher mechanism. The AbstractAjax::catch_lp_ajax() function must be modified to include current_user_can() checks that validate user permissions against specific email notification functions before execution. Additionally, the plugin should implement role-based access controls that restrict email notification triggering to users with appropriate administrative or instructor privileges. The wp_rest nonce should be complemented with additional authentication layers that verify user capabilities rather than relying solely on nonce validation. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting mechanisms on email notification functions to prevent abuse even if capability checks are bypassed. These remediations align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, particularly focusing on proper access control implementation and defense in depth strategies.