CVE-2026-32379 Overview
CVE-2026-32379 is a missing authorization vulnerability affecting the Rara Academic WordPress theme developed by raratheme. The flaw stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels [CWE-862]. It impacts all versions of rara-academic up to and including 1.2.2. Unauthenticated attackers can interact with theme functionality that should be restricted to authorized users, leading to limited integrity impact on affected WordPress sites. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without user interaction or prior privileges.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network-based access to restricted theme functionality due to broken access control, enabling integrity-impacting actions against WordPress sites running Rara Academic <= 1.2.2.
Affected Products
- raratheme Rara Academic WordPress theme
- Rara Academic versions from n/a through <= 1.2.2
- WordPress sites with the rara-academic theme installed and active
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-13 - CVE-2026-32379 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-04-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-32379
Vulnerability Analysis
The Rara Academic theme exposes functionality that lacks proper authorization checks. According to the Patchstack advisory, the theme implements access control through incorrectly configured security levels, allowing unauthorized actors to reach protected operations. The CWE-862 classification confirms the absence of an authorization check before sensitive actions execute.
The issue affects the integrity of the WordPress site, but not confidentiality or availability. An attacker can invoke restricted functionality remotely without authenticating. The exploit prediction score (EPSS) is 0.04% at the 12.2 percentile, indicating low predicted exploitation activity at this time. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization check in one or more theme handlers. The theme registers endpoints or actions that should validate user capabilities before executing privileged operations. Because the capability check is absent or misconfigured, requests originating from unauthenticated users reach code paths intended only for administrators or other authorized roles.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends crafted HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable theme endpoint over the network. No authentication, user interaction, or special access is required. The attacker leverages the missing authorization condition to modify state or trigger actions on the target WordPress installation. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for endpoint-specific technical details.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2026-32379
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to theme settings, options, or customizer values in WordPress sites running Rara Academic <= 1.2.2.
- HTTP requests to admin-ajax.php or theme-specific endpoints originating from unauthenticated sessions targeting privileged actions.
- WordPress audit logs showing configuration changes without an associated authenticated administrator session.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all WordPress installations and identify sites running the rara-academic theme at version 1.2.2 or earlier.
- Review WordPress access logs for anomalous POST requests to theme-handled AJAX actions from unauthenticated clients.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that flags requests to known Rara Academic action endpoints lacking a valid nonce or authenticated cookie.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress activity logging plugins to track option, theme, and setting changes with originating user context.
- Forward web server and WordPress logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation across unauthenticated request patterns.
- Alert on bulk or repeated requests to theme endpoints that produce successful HTTP 200 responses without an authenticated user identifier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-32379
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all instances of the Rara Academic theme on managed WordPress sites and confirm the installed version.
- Restrict administrative endpoints behind network controls or authentication proxies until a patched version is applied.
- Apply WAF virtual patching rules that block unauthenticated access to theme AJAX and admin-post handlers.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the advisory lists affected versions through <= 1.2.2. Site administrators should monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the raratheme vendor channels for a fixed release and upgrade as soon as a patched version becomes available.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and replace the Rara Academic theme on production sites until a patched version is published.
- Apply WAF rules from Patchstack or a comparable WordPress security provider to virtually patch the vulnerable endpoints.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and theme-specific endpoints by IP allowlist where operationally feasible.
# Identify Rara Academic theme version on a WordPress installation
wp theme list --fields=name,status,version | grep rara-academic
# Deactivate the vulnerable theme until a patch is available
wp theme activate twentytwentyfour
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
