CVE-2026-24950: Authorsy Authorization Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2026-24950 Overview

CVE-2026-24950 is an Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability (also known as Insecure Direct Object Reference or IDOR) affecting the Authorsy WordPress plugin developed by themeplugs. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information by manipulating user-controlled keys in requests.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can bypass authorization controls and access confidential data belonging to other users through manipulation of object references, leading to significant information disclosure.

Affected Products

• Authorsy WordPress Plugin version 1.0.6 and earlier
• All installations of Authorsy from n/a through <= 1.0.6

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-20 - CVE CVE-2026-24950 published to NVD
• 2026-02-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24950

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key), commonly referred to as an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability. The flaw exists in the Authorsy WordPress plugin's access control implementation, where the application fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has authorization to access the requested resource.

In IDOR vulnerabilities, the application exposes internal implementation objects such as database keys, file references, or other identifiers to users. When proper authorization checks are not enforced, attackers can manipulate these references to access resources belonging to other users. The network-based attack vector with no authentication requirements makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for WordPress sites using the affected plugin.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the Authorsy plugin's failure to implement proper authorization checks when processing requests that include user-controlled object identifiers. The plugin trusts client-supplied input to determine which resources should be accessed without verifying that the requesting user has legitimate permissions to access those specific objects.

This design flaw allows attackers to enumerate and access resources by simply modifying ID parameters in HTTP requests. The lack of server-side validation means that any user—or in this case, any unauthenticated visitor—can potentially access data that should be restricted to specific users or administrators.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker targeting a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of Authorsy can:

1. Identify endpoints in the plugin that accept object identifiers as parameters
2. Enumerate valid object IDs by incrementing or modifying the identifier values
3. Access resources belonging to other users by substituting their own identifiers with those of targeted users
4. Exfiltrate sensitive information that should be protected by access controls

The vulnerability does not require any special privileges or complex attack chains, making it relatively straightforward to exploit. For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Database.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24950

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual patterns of sequential requests to plugin endpoints with incrementing or modified object identifiers
• Access logs showing unauthenticated requests attempting to retrieve user-specific data
• Multiple requests from a single IP address targeting different user IDs or object references
• Anomalous data access patterns where resources are accessed by users who should not have permission

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious parameter manipulation attempts
• Monitor WordPress access logs for patterns indicative of IDOR exploitation, such as rapid sequential requests with varying ID parameters
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures that alert on attempts to access plugin endpoints with manipulated object references
• Enable WordPress security plugins that can detect and alert on suspicious enumeration activities

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure centralized logging for all WordPress installations and monitor for unusual access patterns to the Authorsy plugin endpoints
• Set up alerts for high volumes of requests to sensitive plugin functions from unauthenticated users
• Regularly audit access logs for signs of data enumeration or unauthorized access attempts
• Implement real-time monitoring for requests containing atypical parameter values or sequential ID patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24950

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all WordPress installations running the Authorsy plugin and verify their version numbers
• If running version 1.0.6 or earlier, immediately assess the risk and consider disabling the plugin until a patch is available
• Review access logs for any signs of past exploitation attempts
• Implement additional access controls at the web server or WAF level to restrict access to vulnerable plugin endpoints

Patch Information

At the time of publication, administrators should check the WordPress plugin repository and the Patchstack advisory for updates on available patches. Users are strongly advised to update to a patched version as soon as one becomes available from themeplugs.

Workarounds

• Disable or deactivate the Authorsy plugin until an official security patch is released
• Implement WAF rules to block unauthenticated access to the plugin's sensitive endpoints
• Use WordPress security plugins to add an additional layer of access control verification
• Consider restricting access to the WordPress admin area and plugin endpoints to trusted IP addresses only

# Example: Restrict access to plugin directory via .htaccess (place in wp-content/plugins/authorsy/)
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/wp-content/plugins/authorsy/ [NC]
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} !^192\.168\.1\. [NC]
RewriteRule ^.*$ - [F,L]
</IfModule>