CVE-2026-14549 Overview
CVE-2026-14549 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Ray Enterprise Translation WordPress plugin through version 1.7.3. The plugin fails to perform capability or nonce checks on one of its AJAX actions. Any authenticated user, including low-privileged Subscribers, can invoke the action to add or delete the site's configured languages. The flaw affects the integrity of site configuration but does not expose confidential data or cause service disruption.
Critical Impact
Authenticated Subscriber-level users can add or delete configured site languages, corrupting the multilingual configuration of any WordPress site running the plugin.
Affected Products
- Ray Enterprise Translation WordPress plugin versions up to and including 1.7.3
- WordPress installations with Subscriber registration enabled
- Any multilingual site relying on the plugin for language configuration
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-11 - CVE-2026-14549 published to NVD
- 2026-08-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-14549
Vulnerability Analysis
The Ray Enterprise Translation plugin registers an AJAX action handler that manipulates the plugin's language configuration. The handler does not verify the caller's capabilities and does not validate a WordPress nonce. WordPress exposes registered AJAX endpoints at wp-admin/admin-ajax.php to any authenticated session, including Subscribers. As a result, the endpoint executes privileged configuration changes on behalf of users who should have no administrative rights.
An attacker who registers a Subscriber account, or hijacks an existing low-privileged session, can add unauthorized languages or delete every configured language. Removal of configured languages breaks translated content delivery and can render the multilingual site unusable until an administrator restores the configuration.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing authorization [CWE-862]. The AJAX handler omits both current_user_can() capability checks and check_ajax_referer() nonce validation. WordPress does not enforce these checks automatically; each plugin author must add them per action.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress site and a valid authenticated session at Subscriber level or higher. The attacker sends a crafted POST request to admin-ajax.php specifying the vulnerable action parameter. No user interaction from an administrator is required.
The vulnerability mechanism is described in the WPScan Vulnerability Report. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently listed.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-14549
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected additions or removals in the Ray Enterprise Translation language list within the WordPress admin interface
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php from Subscriber-level accounts referencing the plugin's AJAX action
- Sudden loss of translated content or 404 responses on previously available language paths
Detection Strategies
- Review web server access logs for admin-ajax.php requests originating from non-administrative user sessions
- Enable WordPress activity logging to record configuration changes to the Ray Enterprise Translation plugin
- Correlate Subscriber account creation events with subsequent AJAX activity targeting the plugin
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on high volumes of authenticated AJAX requests from newly registered accounts
- Monitor changes to plugin option tables (wp_options) containing Ray Enterprise Translation configuration keys
- Track integrity of the configured language list through scheduled configuration snapshots
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-14549
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Ray Enterprise Translation plugin to a version later than 1.7.3 once a patched release is available
- Disable open user registration or restrict the default role to prevent untrusted Subscriber accounts
- Audit existing Subscriber accounts and remove any that are not needed for legitimate site functionality
Patch Information
As of the NVD publication date, no fixed version is referenced in the enriched data. Administrators should monitor the WPScan Vulnerability Report and the plugin's official WordPress repository page for a security release.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Ray Enterprise Translation plugin until a patched version is released if language configuration integrity is business-critical
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php at the web application firewall for requests targeting the vulnerable action
- Back up the WordPress database regularly to enable rapid restoration of language configuration after tampering
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
