WPMU DEV Dashboard Plugin up to 5.0.0 on WordPress validate_hash privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in WPMU DEV Dashboard Plugin up to 5.0.0. Affected by this vulnerability is the function validate_hash. Executing a manipulation can lead to privileges management. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-15459. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in WPMU DEV Dashboard Plugin up to 5.0.0. This vulnerability affects the function validate_hash. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The WPMU DEV Dashboard plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass in all versions up to, and including, 5.0.0. On sites not yet connected to the WPMU DEV Hub — the default state after installation — the site API key that keys the WDP-AUTH request signature is empty, making the signature verified by validate_hash() trivially forgeable; version 5.0.0 additionally removed the replay check in validate_nonce(), and the remote handler is bound to the public init hook with no capability check. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to invoke privileged Hub actions — including installing and activating a plugin from an attacker-supplied URL (resulting in remote code execution), deleting plugins and themes, upgrading WordPress core, or logging in as an administrator via SSO. Sites connected to a WPMU DEV account, which have a non-empty 64-character API key, are not affected.

The advisory is shared for download at wordfence.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-15459 since 07/10/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 08/06/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.

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-2026-53710). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• WordPress Plugin

Vendor

• WPMU DEV

Name

• Dashboard Plugin

Version

• 5.0

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CPE 2.2info

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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