CVE-2026-24587: AJAX Hits Counter Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2026-24587 Overview

CVE-2026-24587 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget WordPress plugin developed by kutsy. This broken access control vulnerability allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially enabling unauthorized actions within WordPress installations running the vulnerable plugin.

The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks (CWE-862), which permits authenticated users with low privileges to perform actions that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles. This type of access control flaw can lead to unauthorized data modification and information disclosure.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can bypass access controls to perform unauthorized actions, potentially modifying data or accessing restricted functionality within WordPress sites using this plugin.

Affected Products

• AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget plugin versions from n/a through 0.10.210305
• WordPress installations using the affected plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-23 - CVE-2026-24587 published to NVD
• 2026-01-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24587

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as Missing Authorization (CWE-862), a common weakness in web applications where security-critical functions lack proper access control verification. In the context of the AJAX Hits Counter plugin, certain AJAX endpoints or administrative functions fail to validate whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to execute the requested action.

The attack requires network access and authentication with at least low-level privileges (such as a subscriber role in WordPress). The vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction, allowing an attacker who has gained even minimal access to a WordPress site to escalate their capabilities beyond their assigned role.

The impact is characterized by limited confidentiality and integrity compromise. Attackers may be able to read restricted information or modify data they should not have access to, though the vulnerability does not directly enable complete system compromise or denial of service.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of proper authorization checks in plugin functionality. WordPress plugins should implement capability checks using functions like current_user_can() before executing privileged operations. When these checks are missing or improperly implemented, users with insufficient privileges can invoke restricted functionality.

The plugin fails to verify user roles or capabilities before processing certain requests, creating a broken access control condition that violates the principle of least privilege.

Attack Vector

The attack leverages the network-accessible AJAX endpoints exposed by the plugin. An authenticated attacker can craft requests to these endpoints, bypassing the intended access restrictions.

Since the vulnerability requires authentication (PR:L - Privileges Required: Low), an attacker must first obtain valid credentials for a WordPress account, even with minimal permissions such as a subscriber role. Once authenticated, the attacker can directly interact with the vulnerable endpoints to perform unauthorized operations.

The vulnerability can be exploited through direct HTTP requests to WordPress AJAX handlers, targeting the plugin's functionality without proper authorization validation. For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack security advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24587

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual AJAX requests to WordPress admin endpoints from low-privileged user sessions
• Unexpected modifications to hit counter data or widget configurations
• Log entries showing plugin-related administrative actions performed by non-administrator accounts
• Anomalous activity patterns from authenticated users with subscriber or contributor roles

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress AJAX endpoints for requests from users without appropriate capabilities
• Implement logging for all plugin administrative functions to track unauthorized access attempts
• Review web server access logs for patterns indicating access control bypass attempts
• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious AJAX request patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for WordPress user activities, particularly for the AJAX Hits Counter plugin
• Monitor for privilege escalation attempts and unusual user behavior patterns
• Configure alerts for administrative actions performed by non-administrator accounts
• Regularly audit plugin access logs for signs of unauthorized access

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24587

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the AJAX Hits Counter + Popular Posts Widget plugin to the latest patched version when available
• Review user accounts and remove unnecessary access privileges following the principle of least privilege
• Consider temporarily disabling the plugin if it is not essential until a patch is released
• Audit recent plugin activity logs for signs of exploitation

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for updates on patch availability. The affected versions include all releases through 0.10.210305. Update to a patched version as soon as one becomes available from the plugin developer.

Workarounds

• Implement virtual patching through a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block unauthorized AJAX requests
• Restrict plugin functionality to only trusted administrator accounts where possible
• Remove unnecessary user accounts or reduce privilege levels for accounts that do not require elevated access
• Consider using WordPress security plugins that provide additional access control monitoring and enforcement

# WordPress CLI commands to audit and manage user roles
# List all users with their roles
wp user list --fields=ID,user_login,roles

# Check installed plugin version
wp plugin list --name=ajax-hits-counter --fields=name,status,version

# Temporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate ajax-hits-counter

# Update plugin when patch is available
wp plugin update ajax-hits-counter