CVE-2026-77003 in Content Mask Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/23/2026
The Content Mask WordPress plugin before 1.8.5.5 does not check the capability required to publish the post type being created, allowing users with a role as low as Contributor to publish posts and pages on the site without holding the publish capability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Content Mask WordPress plugin prior to version 1.8.5.5 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms within the application logic. This flaw specifically affects the post creation workflow, where the system fails to validate whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary permissions to publish content of the specific type being created. In standard WordPress architecture, capabilities such as publish_posts or publish_pages are strictly enforced by the core platform and associated plugins to ensure that only authorized users can make their contributions visible to the public. However, in this instance, the plugin bypasses these essential checks during the submission process for new posts or pages. This oversight allows individuals with minimal privileges, specifically those assigned the Contributor role, to circumvent standard restrictions. Typically, a user with the Contributor role is permitted to write and manage their own posts but must await approval from an Editor or Administrator before they are published publicly. The absence of this capability check effectively elevates the privilege level of these users without any explicit administrative action or configuration change.
From a technical perspective, this issue stems from improper authorization checks within the plugin's handling of post submission requests. When a user initiates the creation of a new content item, the application should query the current user object to verify if they hold the specific capability required for that post type. The failure to perform or correctly interpret this check means that the server accepts and processes the request as valid regardless of the user's actual role permissions. This is not merely an input validation error but a fundamental logic flaw in how the application enforces security policies defined by the WordPress core. By ignoring these constraints, the plugin creates a pathway for unauthorized content publication, which undermines the integrity of the site's editorial workflow and data governance structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any website relying on user-generated content with tiered access levels. Attackers or malicious insiders who have obtained Contributor-level credentials can immediately publish posts, pages, or other custom post types without needing further approval. This capability allows them to inject arbitrary HTML, JavaScript, or links into the live site, potentially facilitating cross-site scripting attacks if input sanitization is also insufficient in conjunction with this privilege escalation. Furthermore, it disrupts the intended content moderation process, allowing spam, defamatory material, or phishing pages to appear on the public-facing portion of the website instantly. For organizations that depend on strict editorial controls and compliance with publishing policies, this flaw renders those safeguards ineffective for any user holding at least a Contributor role.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-269, which describes Improper Privilege Management, as it involves an actor obtaining privileges or accessing resources they are not authorized to access. Additionally, the exploitation technique maps to MITRE ATT&CK tactic T1078, specifically Valid Accounts and Default Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials that have been misconfigured or exploited due to poor permission settings. The attack vector is typically remote if an attacker can register a new account with Contributor privileges, which are often open by default on many WordPress installations for community engagement purposes.
To mitigate this risk, site administrators must immediately update the Content Mask plugin to version 1.8.5.5 or later, where these capability checks have been properly implemented and validated against user roles. Until the patch is applied, it is advisable to restrict the ability of users to register new accounts with Contributor-level access if such functionality is not strictly required for business operations. Administrators should also audit existing user roles on their WordPress installations to ensure that no unnecessary high-privilege roles are assigned to untrusted individuals. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on role-based access control can help identify similar logic flaws in other plugins or custom code, ensuring a more robust defense-in-depth strategy against privilege escalation attacks.