CVE-2026-88795 in wpShopGermany Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2026
The wpShopGermany IT-RECHT KANZLEI WordPress plugin before 2.4 does not generate its API authentication token securely, deriving it from data the requester controls and creating it as a side effect of the check that is supposed to validate it, allowing unauthenticated attackers to predict the token and use the access it grants to write arbitrary files, leading to remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2026
The vulnerability identified in wpShopGermany IT-RECHT KANZLEI WordPress plugin versions prior to 2.4 represents a critical failure in cryptographic key management and authentication logic design. The core technical flaw lies in the method used to generate API authentication tokens, which are intended to secure sensitive administrative functions within the WordPress environment. Instead of utilizing a cryptographically secure random number generator or deriving keys from high-entropy sources such as system time combined with unique server-side salts, the plugin derives its token directly from data controlled by the requester. This architectural decision fundamentally undermines the security model because it allows an external actor to influence the inputs that determine the validity of their own authentication credentials. By making the token generation dependent on user-supplied input rather than internal state or random entropy, the system creates a predictable pattern that can be reverse-engineered by malicious actors seeking unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this flaw is severe due to its direct correlation with remote code execution capabilities. Because the attacker can predict the authentication token through controlled inputs, they are able to bypass all security checks designed to restrict API endpoints to authenticated administrators only. Once the attacker possesses a valid-looking token derived from their own input, they gain full administrative privileges within the WordPress application context. This elevated access level allows them to interact with file management functions that would otherwise be restricted. Specifically, the vulnerability enables the writing of arbitrary files to the server's filesystem. In the context of web applications like WordPress, this capability is particularly dangerous as it permits the upload and execution of malicious scripts, such as PHP shells or backdoors, directly into accessible directories.
This sequence of events aligns closely with established cybersecurity frameworks that categorize flaws in authentication mechanisms and subsequent exploitation paths. The root cause falls under CWE-330, which describes the use of insufficiently random values for cryptographic operations, specifically highlighting the failure to generate unpredictable tokens when security is required. Furthermore, the process of deriving a token from user-controlled data relates to CWE-284, indicating improper access control where authentication mechanisms are bypassed due to weak implementation details. The exploitation path itself maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpretation through web shells or uploaded files, as well as T1136 for creating accounts with administrative privileges if the token allows account manipulation. These classifications underscore that this is not merely a configuration error but a fundamental design flaw in how security tokens are handled within the application logic.
The ability to write arbitrary files effectively grants an unauthenticated attacker complete control over the underlying server environment hosting the WordPress instance. With remote code execution, attackers can exfiltrate sensitive customer data stored in the database, deface the website for reputational damage, or use the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks against internal network resources. This level of compromise violates the core principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability that underpin information security standards such as ISO/IEC 27001. The lack of secure token generation means that even if other layers of defense are present, they can be trivially bypassed by an attacker who understands the deterministic nature of the flawed algorithm used in earlier versions of the plugin.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates and rigorous input validation practices for any remaining legacy systems. The primary recommendation is to upgrade wpShopGermany IT-RECHT KANZLEI WordPress plugin to version 2.4 or later, where this vulnerability has been addressed by implementing secure random number generation for API tokens. For organizations unable to update immediately due to compatibility constraints, temporary mitigations should include restricting access to the affected endpoints via web application firewall rules that block requests with suspiciously predictable token patterns. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict file upload restrictions and disable PHP execution in directories where user-uploaded files are stored, thereby reducing the impact even if an attacker manages to bypass authentication through other means. Regular security audits focusing on cryptographic implementations and access control logic are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into custom or third-party codebases in the future.