CVE-2026-7523
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2026
The Alba Board plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass in all versions up to, and including, 2.1.3. This is due to the plugin not properly verifying that a user is authorized to perform an action. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to access arbitrary private alba_card post data, including title, description, assignee, due date, tags, and comments, that is intended to be restricted to Administrators and Editors. The handler is registered via the wp_ajax_nopriv_ hook and its nonce is exposed to all site visitors through wp_localize_script on pages containing the [alba_board] shortcode, making this exploitable by unauthenticated users who can access any such page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
The Alba Board plugin for WordPress presents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability affecting all versions through 2.1.3, which fundamentally undermines the plugin's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from insufficient user authorization verification within the plugin's code implementation, creating a dangerous pathway for unauthorized data access. The flaw specifically impacts the plugin's handling of private alba_card post data, which contains sensitive information including title, description, assignee details, due dates, tags, and comments that should remain restricted to administrator and editor level users. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the plugin's registration of the handler through the wp_ajax_nopriv_ hook, which is typically designed for unauthenticated requests, yet this particular implementation fails to enforce proper authentication checks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the exposure of the nonce value via wp_localize_script function on pages containing the [alba_board] shortcode. This exposure creates an attack surface where unauthenticated users can access any page featuring the shortcode and extract the security token necessary to bypass authentication requirements. The nonce, which should remain protected and validated only for authorized users, becomes publicly accessible to all site visitors, effectively neutralizing the authentication layer that should protect sensitive data operations. This exposure pattern aligns with common web application vulnerabilities where security tokens are inadvertently exposed through client-side script initialization, creating a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges to escalate their access and gain visibility into restricted administrative information. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the plugin for project management or task tracking, where sensitive information about assignments, deadlines, and team member details could be accessed by unauthorized individuals. The vulnerability affects not just individual user data but potentially entire project workflows, as attackers could gather intelligence about task assignments, completion timelines, and team structures that should remain confidential. This type of access control bypass represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege, where users can access resources beyond their designated permissions.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates a classic failure in secure coding practices and proper input validation within WordPress plugin development. The flaw operates under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts, as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate user accounts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including plugin updates to versions that properly address the authorization bypass, disabling the problematic shortcode functionality until patches are applied, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, security teams should review other plugins for similar nonce exposure patterns and implement comprehensive access control audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the broader WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper authentication verification and the need for developers to carefully consider access control mechanisms when implementing AJAX handlers and user-facing features in WordPress environments.