CVE-2026-19435 Overview
CVE-2026-19435 affects the Duplicate Post WordPress plugin in versions prior to 1.5.6. The plugin fails to verify user capabilities before returning post data through its endpoints. Users assigned a delegated role can read content, metadata, and passwords of posts they are not authorized to access. This includes private and draft posts belonging to other users. The flaw maps to CWE-200 Information Exposure.
Critical Impact
Authenticated users with delegated roles can retrieve private posts, drafts, metadata, and post passwords belonging to other users, exposing unpublished content and protected material.
Affected Products
- Duplicate Post WordPress plugin versions prior to 1.5.6
- WordPress sites using delegated role configurations with this plugin
- Multi-author WordPress installations relying on the plugin for content duplication
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-21 - CVE-2026-19435 published to NVD
- 2026-08-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-19435
Vulnerability Analysis
The Duplicate Post plugin exposes post data through server-side handlers used to clone existing posts. The vulnerable code path returns full post objects without validating that the requesting user has the WordPress capability required to view the source post. An attacker with any delegated role, such as a lower-privileged editorial role, can invoke the handler and receive post content that WordPress core would normally restrict.
The returned payload includes the post body, metadata fields, and the post password used to protect private posts. This gives an authenticated attacker a way to enumerate and read protected content that they cannot reach through the standard WordPress editor interface.
The issue is scoped to authenticated users. Anonymous visitors cannot trigger the flaw. However, in multi-author environments where contributor or custom roles are common, the attack surface is meaningful. See the WPScan Vulnerability Advisory for the technical writeup.
Root Cause
The plugin's post-retrieval logic omits a current_user_can() capability check against the target post ID before serializing and returning the post record. WordPress delegates authorization to the plugin at this layer, and the missing check defaults the plugin to trusting any authenticated session. This is a classic broken access control pattern mapped to CWE-200.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticates to WordPress with a delegated role. The attacker then calls the plugin's duplication endpoint with the target post identifier. Because the plugin does not enforce per-post capability checks, it returns the full post record. The vulnerability requires network access to the WordPress admin surface and valid credentials with a delegated role. No user interaction from the victim is needed.
The vulnerability manifests in the plugin's post retrieval handler. Refer to the security advisory for the specific function and patched diff.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-19435
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests from low-privileged accounts to Duplicate Post plugin endpoints referencing post IDs the account does not own
- Repeated enumeration of sequential post IDs by a single authenticated session
- Access log entries showing delegated-role users retrieving draft or private posts outside their assigned scope
Detection Strategies
- Correlate WordPress user role assignments with plugin endpoint access to identify capability mismatches
- Alert when non-administrator accounts read posts marked private or draft belonging to other authors
- Baseline normal plugin usage per role and flag deviations, especially bulk retrieval patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging for plugin AJAX and REST endpoints
- Forward web server access logs to a SIEM and retain query strings and referrer data
- Monitor for changes to post metadata access patterns following any plugin update rollback
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-19435
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Duplicate Post WordPress plugin to version 1.5.6 or later on all affected sites
- Audit delegated role assignments and remove accounts that no longer require content duplication rights
- Review recent access logs for evidence of unauthorized post retrieval by non-administrator users
Patch Information
Upgrade to Duplicate Post version 1.5.6 or later. The maintainer added the missing capability check in this release. Verify the installed version through the WordPress admin plugin page after applying the update. See the WPScan Vulnerability Advisory for confirmation of the fixed version.
Workarounds
- Disable the Duplicate Post plugin until the patched version is deployed
- Restrict delegated roles so that only trusted accounts retain access to the WordPress admin dashboard
- Rotate post passwords for any private posts that may have been exposed to lower-privileged users
# Update the plugin using WP-CLI
wp plugin update duplicate-post --version=1.5.6
wp plugin list --name=duplicate-post --fields=name,status,version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
