CVE-2025-26741 Overview
CVE-2025-26741 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the AWEOS GmbH Email Notifications for Updates WordPress plugin (wp-update-mail-notification). The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.1.6. Authenticated attackers with low-level privileges can exploit the missing access control checks to escalate privileges within a WordPress instance. The weakness is classified under [CWE-862: Missing Authorization]. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress site.
Critical Impact
Low-privileged authenticated users can escalate to administrator-level access on WordPress sites running vulnerable versions of the plugin.
Affected Products
- AWEOS GmbH Email Notifications for Updates (wp-update-mail-notification)
- Versions: n/a through <= 1.1.6
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-15 - CVE-2025-26741 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26741
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks in the Email Notifications for Updates plugin. The plugin exposes functionality that should be restricted to administrators without verifying the caller's capabilities or role. Attackers authenticated as low-privileged users can invoke these endpoints to perform privileged operations.
The issue maps to [CWE-862: Missing Authorization]. WordPress plugins commonly use current_user_can() capability checks and nonce validation to gate sensitive actions. When these checks are absent or improperly applied, any logged-in user can reach administrative code paths. In this case, the result is privilege escalation impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress installation.
The attack requires network access to the WordPress site and authenticated session credentials at any privilege tier. No user interaction beyond standard request submission is required.
Root Cause
The plugin lacks proper capability and authorization checks on one or more action handlers. Sensitive operations execute without validating that the requesting user holds administrator or equivalent capabilities. This allows subscriber-level or contributor-level accounts to invoke privileged functionality.
Attack Vector
An attacker first obtains valid credentials on the target WordPress site, often through registration if open registration is enabled or via credential stuffing. The attacker then issues an HTTP request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. Because authorization is not enforced, the request executes and grants elevated privileges or modifies sensitive plugin configuration. Refer to the Patchstack advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26741
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected administrator-level accounts created in wp_users after plugin installation
- HTTP POST or GET requests to wp-update-mail-notification plugin endpoints from non-administrative user sessions
- Modifications to WordPress user roles or capabilities not initiated by an admin
- Outbound email notifications referencing configuration changes not initiated by administrators
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for role changes and capability grants performed by non-administrator accounts
- Inspect web server access logs for requests targeting the wp-update-mail-notification plugin path originating from low-privileged sessions
- Compare the plugin version installed on each site against the affected range (<= 1.1.6)
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress activity logging plugin to record user role changes and plugin setting modifications
- Forward web server and application logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation across multiple sites
- Alert on creation of new administrator accounts outside of scheduled provisioning windows
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26741
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running the Email Notifications for Updates plugin at version 1.1.6 or earlier
- Deactivate and remove the plugin until a fixed version is released and verified
- Audit wp_users and wp_usermeta tables for unauthorized administrator accounts or role changes
- Rotate credentials for all administrator accounts and force password resets for lower-privileged users
Patch Information
No fixed version is referenced in the available advisory data. Monitor the Patchstack advisory for wp-update-mail-notification and the WordPress plugin repository for updates beyond version 1.1.6. Apply the patched version as soon as it becomes available.
Workarounds
- Disable open user registration in WordPress settings to limit the pool of authenticated attackers
- Apply a web application firewall rule blocking requests to the plugin's action endpoints from non-administrator sessions
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ paths by IP address where operationally feasible
- Remove the plugin entirely if it is not essential to site operations
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
