CVE-2026-81761 in WpEvently Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2026
Subscriber Broken Access Control in WpEvently <= 5.5.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2026
The vulnerability identified as Subscriber Broken Access Control within the WP Evently plugin, affecting versions up to and including 5.5.0, represents a critical failure in server-side access control mechanisms that allows unauthorized users to perform actions reserved for privileged accounts or other subscribers. This flaw is rooted in the application's inability to properly validate user roles and permissions before processing requests related to event management features. In typical WordPress environments, plugins often rely on specific capability checks such as current_user_can() to enforce security boundaries. However, in this instance, these checks are either missing, incorrectly implemented, or bypassed through manipulated HTTP parameters, allowing any authenticated user with even the lowest level of access, such as a basic subscriber role, to interact with administrative functions intended for editors or administrators.
From a technical perspective, this broken access control manifests when an attacker can manipulate input fields associated with event creation, editing, deletion, or attendee management without possessing the requisite privileges. The vulnerability likely stems from insufficient verification of the user's identity and authorization level against the requested action on the server side. For example, by intercepting network traffic using a proxy tool like Burp Suite, an attacker could modify request parameters to trigger functions that create new events, delete existing ones, or manage attendee lists without being redirected to a login page or receiving an access denied error. This type of flaw is commonly categorized under CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials that have been escalated or misused due to poor role-based access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any website running WP Evently versions 5.5.0 or earlier. An attacker can exploit this flaw to disrupt business operations by deleting critical event data, which may lead to financial loss and reputational damage if events are cancelled without notice. Furthermore, the ability to create fraudulent events could be used for phishing campaigns or spreading malware under the guise of legitimate activities hosted on the trusted domain. In more severe scenarios, depending on how the plugin handles file uploads or database interactions within these unrestricted functions, there may be secondary risks involving cross-site scripting (XSS) if input sanitization is also lacking, although the primary concern here remains the unauthorized modification and deletion of data due to broken access controls.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action must be taken by upgrading the WP Evently plugin to a version newer than 5.5.0 where these access control checks have been properly implemented and tested. Site administrators should verify that all plugins are up to date with their latest releases from official repositories or trusted vendors. Additionally, implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAF) can provide an additional layer of defense by detecting and blocking anomalous request patterns associated with privilege escalation attempts. Regular security audits focusing on role-based access control logic across all custom code and third-party plugins are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future, ensuring that every action performed within the application is strictly bound to the permissions assigned to the authenticated user session.