CVE-2026-57727 in Kirki Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Themeum Kirki kirki allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Kirki: from n/a through <= 6.0.13.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2026
The missing authorization vulnerability in Themeum Kirki represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress themes relying on this framework. This vulnerability stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels within the Kirki plugin, creating opportunities for unauthorized users to exploit administrative functionalities. The issue affects versions ranging from the initial release through version 6.0.13, indicating a prolonged period during which systems remained exposed to potential exploitation. The vulnerability manifests when the framework fails to properly validate user permissions before executing privileged operations, allowing attackers with minimal privileges to perform actions typically restricted to administrators or authorized personnel.
The technical flaw resides in the insufficient implementation of authorization checks within Kirki's configuration system, where access control mechanisms are either absent or improperly enforced during theme customization processes. This misconfiguration enables attackers to manipulate configuration settings that should only be accessible to users with appropriate administrative rights. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct API calls, manipulated HTTP requests, or by leveraging existing user sessions with lower privileges. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where applications fail to properly enforce access controls for privileged operations. The flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor implementation of access control measures within the plugin architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling complete compromise of affected WordPress installations through privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to modify theme settings, inject malicious code, manipulate database configurations, or even gain full administrative control over compromised sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where less privileged users might have access to theme customization interfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1546 Persistence, as it allows attackers to establish unauthorized access paths and maintain control over affected systems. The broad version range indicates that organizations running vulnerable versions face prolonged exposure windows, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation across various deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to 6.0.14 or later, where the authorization flaws have been addressed through proper access control implementation. Organizations must also implement additional security measures including regular vulnerability assessments, monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, and network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. Security hardening practices such as implementing role-based access controls, disabling unnecessary administrative features, and maintaining up-to-date security configurations should be enforced throughout the WordPress ecosystem. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security audits of their theme and plugin frameworks to identify similar authorization issues that might exist in other components of their digital infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web application security frameworks and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during software development lifecycle processes.