CVE-2026-39673: iZooto Web Push Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2026-39673 Overview

A Missing Authorization vulnerability has been discovered in the iZooto Web Push WordPress plugin developed by shrikantkale. This broken access control flaw allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially enabling unauthorized actions within WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the plugin.

The vulnerability stems from CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before allowing certain operations. This type of flaw can lead to unauthorized modification of plugin settings, data exposure, or other security compromises depending on which functionality lacks proper authorization checks.

Critical Impact

Unauthorized users may exploit missing authorization checks to perform privileged actions within WordPress sites using iZooto versions through 3.7.20.

Affected Products

• iZooto Web Push WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 3.7.20
• WordPress installations with the izooto-web-push plugin active

Discovery Timeline

• April 8, 2026 - CVE-2026-39673 published to NVD
• April 8, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-39673

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a Broken Access Control flaw within the iZooto Web Push plugin for WordPress. Missing authorization checks mean that certain plugin functionality that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or specific user roles can potentially be accessed by unauthorized users, including unauthenticated visitors or lower-privileged WordPress users.

The iZooto plugin provides web push notification capabilities for WordPress sites. When authorization is missing from sensitive plugin endpoints or AJAX handlers, attackers can potentially manipulate push notification settings, access subscriber data, or perform administrative actions without proper credentials.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified as CWE-862 (Missing Authorization). The plugin fails to implement proper capability checks or nonce verification on one or more of its functions. In WordPress, plugins must explicitly verify user capabilities using functions like current_user_can() and validate nonces to ensure requests are legitimate and authorized.

When these checks are absent, any user who can reach the vulnerable endpoint—whether through direct AJAX calls, form submissions, or other request methods—can execute privileged operations regardless of their actual permissions.

Attack Vector

The attack can be carried out remotely through the WordPress site's web interface. An attacker would need to:

1. Identify the vulnerable AJAX action or endpoint within the iZooto plugin
2. Craft a malicious request that bypasses the missing authorization checks
3. Submit the request to the target WordPress installation to perform unauthorized actions

The vulnerability requires no special privileges to exploit, as the fundamental issue is that authorization checks are missing entirely rather than improperly configured. For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack Izooto Plugin Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-39673

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected changes to iZooto plugin configuration or push notification settings
• Unusual AJAX requests to iZooto plugin endpoints from unauthorized users or IP addresses
• Modified plugin options in the WordPress database without corresponding administrator activity
• Suspicious entries in web server access logs targeting wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with iZooto-related actions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress AJAX handlers for requests to iZooto-related actions from non-authenticated sessions
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block unauthorized plugin manipulation attempts
• Review WordPress audit logs for configuration changes to the iZooto plugin settings
• Enable file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to plugin files

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure centralized logging for all WordPress admin-ajax.php requests and filter for iZooto plugin actions
• Set up alerts for any plugin settings changes occurring outside normal administrative hours
• Monitor for enumeration attempts targeting WordPress plugin endpoints
• Implement user behavior analytics to detect unusual administrative actions from non-admin accounts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-39673

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the iZooto Web Push plugin to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability
• Review the iZooto plugin settings to ensure no unauthorized modifications have been made
• Audit WordPress user accounts and remove any suspicious or unauthorized administrator accounts
• Consider temporarily deactivating the iZooto plugin until a patched version is confirmed

Patch Information

Users should check for updates to the iZooto Web Push plugin through the WordPress plugin repository or the vendor's official website. The vulnerability affects versions through 3.7.20, so any version newer than this that specifically addresses CVE-2026-39673 should be applied immediately. Consult the Patchstack Izooto Plugin Advisory for the latest patch status and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php at the web server level to authenticated users only where feasible
• Implement a WordPress security plugin with built-in access control hardening capabilities
• Use a Web Application Firewall to monitor and block suspicious requests targeting plugin endpoints
• Consider removing the plugin entirely if push notifications are not critical to site functionality

# WordPress CLI command to check iZooto plugin version
wp plugin list --name=izooto-web-push --fields=name,version,status

# Deactivate the plugin temporarily if needed
wp plugin deactivate izooto-web-push

# Update to the latest version when patch is available
wp plugin update izooto-web-push