CVE-2026-49045 Overview
CVE-2026-49045 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the WP Media Adminimize WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to bypass intended restrictions. The issue affects all Adminimize versions up to and including 1.11.11.
An attacker holding any authenticated WordPress account can leverage this weakness over the network to access functionality that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles. The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality, with no required user interaction.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with low privileges can bypass access control restrictions in the Adminimize plugin and reach administrative functionality that should be off-limits.
Affected Products
- WP Media Adminimize WordPress plugin
- Versions from n/a through 1.11.11
- WordPress installations using the Adminimize plugin for role-based UI restrictions
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-27 - CVE-2026-49045 published to NVD
- 2026-05-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-49045
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a Broken Access Control issue classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization. Adminimize is a WordPress plugin designed to hide and restrict administrative interface elements based on user role. The plugin defines security levels that determine which UI components and backend endpoints are accessible to each role.
In versions up to 1.11.11, these security levels are incorrectly configured. Sensitive actions exposed by the plugin do not consistently verify whether the requesting user possesses the required capability. As a result, an attacker with a low-privilege authenticated session can issue requests against endpoints intended for administrators.
The attack requires network access and valid credentials at any authenticated tier. No user interaction is needed, and the scope remains unchanged. Successful exploitation discloses information from the administrative interface but does not directly modify data or impact availability.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing or insufficient authorization check on plugin actions. The plugin relies on configured security levels rather than enforcing WordPress capability checks such as current_user_can() on every privileged action. When the configured level does not match the sensitivity of the underlying operation, low-privileged users can invoke functions that were intended only for administrators.
Attack Vector
Exploitation proceeds over HTTP against the WordPress site. An authenticated attacker, typically holding a Subscriber, Contributor, or Author role, submits crafted requests to plugin endpoints exposed by Adminimize. Because the access control logic does not properly validate the caller's role against the security level required by the action, the request succeeds and returns data the user should not see. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-49045
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests to Adminimize plugin endpoints originating from non-administrative user sessions
- Unexpected access to wp-admin actions by Subscriber, Contributor, or Author accounts
- HTTP 200 responses to plugin-handled admin-ajax.php or admin-post requests from low-privileged sessions
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress access logs for requests to Adminimize-controlled URLs paired with low-privilege session cookies
- Audit installed plugin versions across WordPress fleets and flag any Adminimize instance at 1.11.11 or earlier
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent privileged-action requests to identify role mismatches
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose request logging on the web server and forward to a centralized log store
- Add WAF or application-layer rules that alert when non-admin sessions hit administrative plugin routes
- Monitor the Patchstack and WPScan feeds for updated indicators related to this advisory
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-49045
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory all WordPress sites and identify those running Adminimize at version 1.11.11 or earlier
- Update the Adminimize plugin to a fixed release as soon as it is published by WP Media
- Restrict account creation and audit existing low-privilege accounts for unexpected activity
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects Adminimize through version 1.11.11. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the WordPress plugin repository for the latest patched version and apply it across all affected installations.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Adminimize plugin until a patched version is installed
- Tighten Adminimize security level configurations and remove permissions assigned to lower-privileged roles
- Disable open user registration and enforce strong authentication to reduce the pool of accounts that could exploit the flaw
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
