CVE-2026-54184 Overview
CVE-2026-54184 is an unauthenticated Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability affecting the Clean Login WordPress plugin in versions 1.15 and earlier. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate object identifiers in requests to access or modify resources belonging to other users without authentication. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key].
The issue is network-exploitable with low attack complexity and requires no privileges or user interaction. Successful exploitation can compromise data integrity and affect application availability on WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin.
Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can manipulate object references in the Clean Login plugin to tamper with user-scoped resources and degrade availability of affected WordPress installations.
Affected Products
- Clean Login WordPress plugin versions 1.15 and earlier
- WordPress sites with Clean Login installed and active
- Any deployment exposing the plugin's request handlers to the internet
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-17 - CVE-2026-54184 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-54184
Vulnerability Analysis
The Clean Login plugin provides front-end login, registration, and account management functionality for WordPress. CVE-2026-54184 stems from missing authorization checks when the plugin processes user-supplied identifiers tied to account or resource operations. An attacker can substitute another user's identifier in a request and the plugin will operate on that target without verifying ownership or session context.
Because the vulnerable code paths are reachable without authentication, an attacker only needs to send crafted HTTP requests to the WordPress site. The integrity impact is limited in scope, but the availability impact is high, indicating that successful manipulation can disrupt account state or related functionality. The EPSS value of 0.261% reflects current scoring data published on 2026-06-18.
Root Cause
The root cause is an authorization defect classified as [CWE-639]. The plugin trusts client-supplied object identifiers and does not validate that the requesting party owns, or is permitted to act on, the referenced object. This breaks the access control contract expected from authenticated WordPress endpoints.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network using standard HTTP or HTTPS requests to plugin endpoints. An attacker enumerates or guesses object identifiers such as user IDs or token references and submits them in parameters processed by the vulnerable handler. No credentials, user interaction, or elevated privileges are required.
No verified public exploitation code is available. The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-54184
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to WordPress user accounts that were not initiated by the legitimate owner
- HTTP requests to Clean Login endpoints containing sequential or enumerated user identifier values from a single source
- Anomalous spikes in unauthenticated POST or GET traffic to plugin URLs under /wp-content/plugins/clean-login/
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress access logs for requests targeting Clean Login handlers with user_id, id, or similar parameters originating from unauthenticated sessions
- Correlate plugin request patterns with subsequent account state changes recorded in the WordPress database
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that flags IDOR-style parameter tampering against WordPress plugin endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress and reverse proxy logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
- Alert on bulk identifier enumeration patterns and repeated 200-OK responses to unauthenticated plugin requests
- Monitor the wp_users and wp_usermeta tables for out-of-band updates that do not correlate with administrative sessions
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-54184
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress instances running Clean Login version 1.15 or earlier and prioritize them for remediation
- Update the Clean Login plugin to the latest fixed version as published by the maintainer
- Restrict access to WordPress administrative and plugin endpoints from untrusted networks where feasible
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the current patched version and remediation guidance from the plugin maintainer. Apply the update through the WordPress plugin dashboard or via WP-CLI in maintenance windows.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Clean Login plugin until a patched version is installed if the functionality is non-essential
- Deploy WAF rules that enforce session-bound identifier validation on Clean Login request parameters
- Restrict unauthenticated access to plugin endpoints using server-side allowlists or authentication gateways
# Update Clean Login plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin update clean-login
# Verify installed version
wp plugin get clean-login --field=version
# Temporarily deactivate if a patch is not yet available
wp plugin deactivate clean-login
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
