CVE-2026-32379 in Rara Academic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in raratheme Rara Academic rara-academic allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Rara Academic: from n/a through <= 1.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2026
The CVE-2026-32379 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the raratheme Rara Academic WordPress theme, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.2.2. This vulnerability stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels that fail to properly validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. The flaw exists in the theme's implementation where certain backend operations should require administrator-level privileges but instead execute without proper authorization checks, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to perform actions typically restricted to privileged accounts.
This missing authorization issue fundamentally undermines the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement within the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, potentially enabling them to modify theme settings, upload malicious files, or manipulate website content. The flaw resides in the theme's code where authentication checks are either absent or improperly implemented, creating a persistent security gap that can be exploited across multiple user roles within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of the affected WordPress site. Attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, modify core website functionality, and potentially use the compromised theme as a foothold for further attacks within the broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate theme functionality but also the underlying WordPress security model, as it demonstrates how theme developers can inadvertently create security holes that bypass standard WordPress access control mechanisms.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The flaw represents a classic example of insufficient access control where the system fails to properly verify that the requesting entity has sufficient privileges to perform the requested operation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic where adversaries leverage application-level vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access. Organizations using affected versions of the Rara Academic theme face significant risk of data compromise, website defacement, and potential use as a command and control channel for broader network attacks.
The recommended mitigations include immediate upgrade to the latest version of the Rara Academic theme where the authorization flaw has been patched, along with comprehensive review of all installed themes and plugins for similar access control issues. Security administrators should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities and ensure proper role-based access controls are enforced throughout the WordPress installation. Regular security audits of custom code and third-party themes remain essential to identify and remediate similar authorization vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.