CVE-2026-49043 Overview
CVE-2026-49043 is an unauthenticated Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the WP Migrate Lite WordPress plugin in versions 2.7.8 and earlier. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-352] and stems from missing or inadequate anti-CSRF token validation on plugin actions. An attacker can craft a malicious web page or link that, when visited by an authenticated WordPress administrator, triggers unwanted state-changing operations within the plugin context. User interaction is required, and successful exploitation can impact site availability.
Critical Impact
Attackers can trick authenticated WordPress users into executing unauthorized plugin actions, potentially affecting site availability through forged requests.
Affected Products
- WP Migrate Lite WordPress plugin versions <= 2.7.8
- WordPress sites with the affected plugin installed and active
- Administrative sessions on impacted WordPress installations
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-15 - CVE-2026-49043 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-49043
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the request handling logic of WP Migrate Lite. Plugin endpoints accept state-changing requests without verifying the origin through a WordPress nonce or equivalent anti-CSRF token. An attacker hosting malicious content can embed forged requests targeting the plugin. When a logged-in administrator visits the attacker-controlled page, the browser submits authenticated requests automatically. The plugin processes those requests as if the user had intentionally issued them.
The EPSS score is 0.119%, reflecting a low predicted likelihood of near-term exploitation activity. No public exploit code has been published at the time of writing.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing CSRF protection on plugin actions [CWE-352]. WordPress provides wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() primitives that defend against forged requests, but the affected plugin code paths do not enforce nonce validation before performing sensitive operations. Same-origin assumptions allow cross-site requests to succeed using the victim's authenticated session cookies.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker prepares an HTML page containing an auto-submitting form or image tag targeting a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The attacker then lures an authenticated WordPress administrator to the page through phishing, malvertising, or comments on other sites. The victim's browser sends the forged request with valid session cookies, and the plugin executes the action.
The vulnerability mechanism is described in the Patchstack WP Migrate DB Vulnerability advisory. No verified proof-of-concept code is available for reproduction.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-49043
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected WP Migrate Lite plugin actions appearing in WordPress activity logs without corresponding admin-initiated sessions
- HTTP POST or GET requests to plugin endpoints with Referer headers pointing to unfamiliar external domains
- Sudden changes to migration profiles, exports, or plugin configuration without a documented administrator action
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for cross-origin Referer values targeting WP Migrate Lite admin URLs
- Compare WordPress audit log entries against authenticated administrator activity to identify state changes lacking a corresponding admin session
- Monitor for outbound database exports or migration files generated outside scheduled maintenance windows
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress audit logging plugin that records plugin-level actions and user agents
- Forward web server and WordPress logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation across admin sessions and request origins
- Alert on requests to WP Migrate Lite endpoints that lack a valid WordPress nonce parameter
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-49043
Immediate Actions Required
- Update WP Migrate Lite to a version newer than 2.7.8 once the vendor publishes a fix
- Audit recent plugin activity for unauthorized migration or export operations
- Require administrators to log out of WordPress sessions before browsing untrusted sites
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the NVD entry references the Patchstack advisory for remediation tracking. Administrators should monitor the WordPress plugin repository for a patched release above version 2.7.8 and apply it as soon as it becomes available.
Workarounds
- Temporarily deactivate WP Migrate Lite until a patched version is installed
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ via IP allowlisting at the web server or WAF layer
- Enforce SameSite=Strict or SameSite=Lax attributes on WordPress session cookies to reduce cross-site request risk
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks plugin requests missing a valid _wpnonce parameter
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
