CVE-2026-78266 in AutomatorWP
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2026
Subscriber Broken Access Control in AutomatorWP <= 5.8.3 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as Subscriber Broken Access Control within AutomatorWP versions prior to 5.8.3 represents a critical flaw in the application's authorization logic, specifically targeting user role validation mechanisms. This issue stems from an insufficient check on server-side permissions when processing requests related to subscriber management operations. In typical WordPress plugin architectures, actions such as adding, editing, or deleting subscribers should be restricted to administrators or users with specific elevated privileges due to the sensitive nature of personal data handling and automation workflow configuration. However, in this instance, the application fails to adequately verify whether the authenticated user initiating these requests possesses the requisite administrative rights before executing the action. This oversight allows any logged-in user, including those with minimal capabilities such as subscribers or contributors who may have registered on the site, to interact directly with API endpoints or internal functions responsible for managing subscriber records without proper authorization checks.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns closely with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key. The root cause lies in the reliance on client-side validation or insufficient server-side role verification during request processing. When an authenticated user sends a payload to modify subscriber data, the application accepts the input based solely on the presence of valid session cookies or tokens without cross-referencing these credentials against the expected permission levels for that specific operation. This architectural weakness enables unauthorized actors to bypass intended security boundaries effectively. By manipulating HTTP requests through tools like Burp Suite or by crafting custom scripts, an attacker can send commands to add new subscribers, modify existing subscriber details such as email addresses and names, or delete subscriber records entirely. The absence of strict role-based access control means that the application treats all authenticated users equally regarding these specific administrative functions, disregarding the principle of least privilege which dictates that users should only have access to resources necessary for their defined roles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the potential for data integrity compromise and unauthorized automation execution. An attacker with low-level privileges can exploit this flaw to inject malicious subscribers into the system, potentially using these entries to trigger automated workflows designed by administrators. If those workflows involve sending emails or executing other actions based on subscriber triggers, the attacker could indirectly cause spamming activities or disrupt business logic without direct administrative access. Furthermore, the ability to delete or alter subscriber data poses a severe risk to data confidentiality and integrity. Sensitive personal information stored within these records may be exposed or corrupted, leading to potential violations of privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA depending on the jurisdiction and nature of the data involved. Additionally, if the plugin integrates with third-party services for email marketing or CRM purposes, compromised subscriber lists could lead to reputational damage and loss of trust among legitimate users who rely on these integrations for communication.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and enhanced access control implementation. The primary remediation step is to upgrade AutomatorWP to version 5.8.3 or later where this authorization bypass has been addressed by developers through stricter server-side validation of user roles before processing subscriber-related requests. Until the update can be applied, administrators should consider implementing web application firewall rules that monitor for anomalous patterns in subscriber management endpoints, such as unexpected POST requests from non-administrative IP addresses or unusual frequency of changes to subscriber data. It is also advisable to review and restrict direct access to plugin-specific API routes if possible, ensuring that only authorized administrative interfaces can interact with these functions. Regular security audits focusing on authorization logic across all custom plugins are recommended to prevent similar vulnerabilities arising from inconsistent implementation of role-based access controls in future development cycles.