CVE-2026-65500 in Manual
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in Manual - Documentation, Knowledge Base & Education WordPress Theme <= 7.5.4 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical broken access control flaw that affects the Manual WordPress theme version 7.5.4 and earlier, exposing sensitive administrative functionalities to unauthorized users. The issue stems from insufficient authentication checks within the theme's codebase, specifically in the documentation, knowledge base, and education modules that are part of the theme's feature set. According to CWE-284, this weakness allows actors to bypass authorization mechanisms through improper access control implementation. The vulnerability enables unauthenticated attackers to access restricted administrative interfaces and potentially manipulate content or configuration settings without proper credentials.
The technical exploitation occurs due to missing authentication verification routines in the theme's PHP files responsible for handling administrative requests within the documentation system. Attackers can leverage this flaw by directly accessing specific endpoints that should require administrator privileges, allowing them to view sensitive information, modify knowledge base articles, or manipulate educational content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core functionality areas of the theme that are typically protected from public access. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor implementation of access control mechanisms.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress sites using the affected theme version, as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to documentation systems and educational resources. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential data manipulation, content injection, or even full site compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to modify training materials, alter documentation content, or potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. This flaw directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as unauthorized users can effectively bypass authentication controls through this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should begin with immediate patching of the Manual theme to version 7.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary authentication checks. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular theme updates, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and implementing web application firewalls to detect suspicious requests. Network-level protections such as IP whitelisting for administrative endpoints and rate limiting can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication implementation, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify similar access control weaknesses in other themes or plugins that may be vulnerable to similar exploitation techniques.