webfactory Advanced Google reCAPTCHA Plugin up to 5.38 on WordPress AJAX ajax_run_tool authentication bypass

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in webfactory Advanced Google reCAPTCHA Plugin up to 5.38 on WordPress. Affected is the function ajax_run_tool of the component AJAX Handler. The manipulation results in authentication bypass. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-5415. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in webfactory Advanced Google reCAPTCHA Plugin up to 5.38 on WordPress. Affected is the function ajax_run_tool of the component AJAX Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a authentication bypass vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-288. A product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The WP Captcha PRO (the premium version of the Advanced Google reCAPTCHA plugin, both have the same slug) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass in all versions up to, and including, 5.38. This is due to the ajax_run_tool() AJAX handler relying solely on a nonce check (check_ajax_referer) for security without performing any capability check, combined with the create_temporary_link tool allowing the generation of passwordless login links for arbitrary users, and the handle_temporary_links() function authenticating visitors via these links without any additional authorization validation. The required nonce is exposed to all authenticated backend users (including Subscribers) via wp_localize_script() on all non-settings admin pages when the plugin's welcome pointer has not been dismissed. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to bypass normal authentication and log in as any user, including Administrators, resulting in complete account takeover.

The weakness was shared by Nguyen Ngoc Duc. The advisory is available at wordfence.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-5415 since 04/02/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 06/07/2026).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-34888). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• WordPress Plugin

Vendor

• webfactory

Name

• Advanced Google reCAPTCHA Plugin

Version

• 5.0
• 5.1
• 5.2
• 5.3
• 5.4
• 5.5
• 5.6
• 5.7
• 5.8
• 5.9
• 5.10
• 5.11
• 5.12
• 5.13
• 5.14
• 5.15
• 5.16
• 5.17
• 5.18
• 5.19
• 5.20
• 5.21
• 5.22
• 5.23
• 5.24
• 5.25
• 5.26
• 5.27
• 5.28
• 5.29
• 5.30
• 5.31
• 5.32
• 5.33
• 5.34
• 5.35
• 5.36
• 5.37
• 5.38

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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