CVE-2026-94079 in User Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2026
Unauthenticated Broken Access Control in WP User Manager <= 2.9.19 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unbroken access control issue within the WordPress plugin WP User Manager, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2.9.19, represents a critical failure in server-side authorization mechanisms. This flaw allows attackers who are not authenticated or lack sufficient privileges to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized administrators or specific user roles. The core of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's handling of HTTP requests related to user management and profile modifications, where input validation and permission checks were insufficiently implemented during certain operations. By exploiting this gap, an attacker can bypass standard authentication gates, effectively gaining unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions or modifying data belonging to other users without proper verification of their identity or rights.
From a technical perspective, the flaw typically manifests through endpoints that process user profile updates, role assignments, or account deletions via AJAX requests or direct HTTP methods such as POST and PUT. In many instances involving this plugin family, the issue stems from missing nonce validation or insufficient checks on the current user's capabilities before executing state-changing operations. For example, an attacker might craft a malicious request that alters another user's password, email address, or administrative privileges by manipulating parameters in the request payload. Since the server fails to verify whether the requester is actually the owner of the account or holds the requisite administrator role, it processes the modification as legitimate. This type of vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, and often intersects with CWE-601 regarding URL Redirection to Untrusted Site (if combined with phishing) but primarily sits under unauthorized action execution due to broken object level or function level access control failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly in multi-user WordPress environments where trust between users varies significantly. An attacker can escalate privileges by promoting a low-privilege account to an administrator role, thereby gaining full control over the website's backend. This includes the ability to install malicious plugins, modify theme files, inject persistent backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive database contents containing personal identifiable information (PII) of other users. Furthermore, if the site is used for e-commerce or membership services, attackers could manipulate user subscriptions, cancel orders, or access private content areas reserved for paying members only. The lack of authentication requirement means that this exploitation does not require prior login credentials, making it highly attractive to automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers seeking quick compromises of vulnerable installations.
In the context of cyber threat intelligence frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this vulnerability facilitates techniques related to Initial Access through exploit public-facing applications (T1190) and Privilege Escalation via abuse of elevation controls (T1078). The attacker leverages the broken access control to move laterally within the application layer or escalate their standing from a guest state to an administrative one. This compromises the integrity, confidentiality, and availability pillars of information security for the affected WordPress instance. Organizations relying on this plugin must recognize that even if front-end interactions appear secure, backend API endpoints may remain exposed due to these logic flaws in authorization checks.
Mitigation strategies require immediate action by site administrators to update WP User Manager to version 2.9.20 or later, where the vendor has addressed the access control deficiencies and strengthened input validation procedures. Until an upgrade is feasible, temporary mitigations include restricting access to WordPress admin directories via IP whitelisting if possible, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules designed to detect anomalous POST requests targeting user management endpoints, and auditing existing users for any signs of unauthorized privilege escalation or profile changes. Regular security audits focusing on authorization logic in custom code and third-party plugins are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into the environment.