CVE-2026-24536: Webpushr Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-24536 Overview

CVE-2026-24536 is a Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability in the Webpushr Web Push Notifications plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to retrieve sensitive embedded system information due to improper access controls within the plugin. This weakness is classified under CWE-497 (Exposure of Sensitive System Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere).

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely access and retrieve sensitive system data from affected WordPress installations without any user interaction required.

Affected Products

• Webpushr Web Push Notifications plugin versions through 4.38.0
• WordPress installations running vulnerable Webpushr plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-23 - CVE-2026-24536 published to NVD
• 2026-01-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24536

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from the Webpushr plugin exposing sensitive system information to unauthorized parties. The issue lies in the plugin's handling of embedded data that should be protected from external access. When the plugin processes web push notification configurations, certain sensitive system parameters become accessible to unauthenticated users through the network.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction. While the vulnerability does not impact system integrity or availability, it provides a high level of confidentiality breach, allowing attackers to extract sensitive configuration data that may be leveraged for further attacks against the target system.

Root Cause

The root cause is the exposure of sensitive system information to an unauthorized control sphere (CWE-497). The Webpushr plugin fails to implement proper access controls when serving embedded sensitive data, allowing this information to be retrieved by unauthorized parties. This represents a fundamental flaw in the plugin's data protection mechanisms.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication. An attacker can send crafted requests to the affected WordPress site running the vulnerable Webpushr plugin to retrieve sensitive embedded data. The attack requires no special privileges and does not depend on user interaction, making it easily exploitable by remote attackers.

The sensitive data exposure occurs when the plugin serves configuration or system information without validating whether the requesting party is authorized to access such data. This allows attackers to gather intelligence about the target system that could facilitate additional attacks.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24536

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual access patterns to Webpushr plugin endpoints from external IP addresses
• Unexpected requests attempting to access plugin configuration data
• Log entries showing repeated requests to plugin-specific URLs from unauthenticated sources
• Evidence of data exfiltration attempts targeting plugin resources

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress access logs for suspicious requests targeting the webpushr-web-push-notifications plugin directory
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block reconnaissance attempts against the plugin
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on unusual data transfer patterns from WordPress installations
• Review server logs for requests attempting to access plugin configuration endpoints without authentication

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for the Webpushr plugin and WordPress core
• Set up alerting for access attempts to sensitive plugin endpoints
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect potential data exfiltration
• Monitor for any new or modified files in the plugin directory

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24536

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Webpushr Web Push Notifications plugin to a version newer than 4.38.0 when a patched version becomes available
• Review WordPress access logs for any signs of exploitation
• Consider temporarily disabling the Webpushr plugin if it is not critical to operations
• Implement WAF rules to restrict access to plugin endpoints

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects Webpushr Web Push Notifications plugin versions through 4.38.0. Site administrators should monitor the official WordPress plugin repository and the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for updates on patched versions.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin directories using .htaccess rules or server configuration
• Implement IP-based access controls for administrative functions
• Use a Web Application Firewall to filter malicious requests targeting the plugin
• Consider using security plugins to add additional access control layers

# Example .htaccess restriction for plugin directory
<Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/webpushr-web-push-notifications">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 127.0.0.1
    # Add trusted IP addresses as needed
</Directory>