CVE-2026-57405 Overview
CVE-2026-57405 is a missing authorization vulnerability affecting the themehunk Open Shop WordPress theme. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.7.1. Attackers with low-privileged authenticated access can exploit incorrectly configured access control checks to reach restricted functionality. The weakness maps to [CWE-862] Missing Authorization and is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity. Successful exploitation allows authenticated users to bypass access control boundaries, modify limited data, and disrupt the availability of the affected site.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can bypass access controls in the Open Shop WordPress theme (versions ≤ 1.7.1) to affect integrity and availability of the site.
Affected Products
- themehunk Open Shop WordPress theme
- All versions up to and including 1.7.1
- WordPress sites deploying the vulnerable theme
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-13 - CVE-2026-57405 published to NVD
- 2026-07-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-57405
Vulnerability Analysis
The Open Shop theme exposes functionality that does not verify the authorization level of the calling user. WordPress themes commonly register AJAX handlers or REST endpoints that must validate capabilities using current_user_can() or nonce checks combined with role verification. When these checks are missing or misconfigured, any authenticated user, including low-privileged subscribers, can invoke sensitive actions.
The vulnerability requires network access and low privileges. No user interaction is needed. The scope of the impact is limited to integrity and availability, indicating that the exposed functionality can modify or delete data and cause service disruption rather than leak sensitive information.
Root Cause
The root cause is an access control gap classified under [CWE-862]. Restricted operations in the theme do not enforce authorization at the security boundary. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable theme endpoints. Because authorization is not enforced, the server processes actions that should be reserved for administrators or shop managers. Attackers can chain this access to alter shop configuration, modify catalog data, or trigger denial-of-service conditions on the WordPress instance.
No verified public exploit code is available at the time of publication. The vulnerability mechanism is described in prose per the referenced advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-57405
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected POST requests from low-privileged accounts to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php targeting Open Shop theme actions
- Modifications to theme options, shop settings, or catalog entries performed by non-administrative users
- Sudden availability degradation of WordPress sites running the Open Shop theme
Detection Strategies
- Audit WordPress access logs for authenticated requests to Open Shop endpoints originating from subscriber or customer accounts
- Enable WordPress activity logging plugins to record capability-sensitive operations and correlate them with user roles
- Monitor for anomalous changes to wp_options and theme-related database tables
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on requests to theme AJAX handlers where the requesting user lacks the expected role
- Track integrity of theme configuration files and database records using file integrity monitoring
- Review error logs for authorization-related failures preceding successful requests to the same endpoint
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-57405
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress instances running the Open Shop theme version 1.7.1 or earlier
- Restrict user registration and audit existing subscriber-level accounts on affected sites
- Apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available from themehunk
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the advisory lists versions up to and including 1.7.1 as vulnerable. Administrators should consult the Patchstack advisory and the themehunk vendor page for the fixed release, and update the theme through the WordPress admin console once available.
Workarounds
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block unauthenticated and low-privileged requests to Open Shop theme endpoints
- Temporarily switch to an alternate theme if a patch is not yet available and the site handles sensitive commerce data
- Enforce least privilege by removing unused user accounts and restricting registration to trusted email domains
# Configuration example: identify sites running the vulnerable theme
wp theme list --status=active --format=csv | grep -i open-shop
wp theme get open-shop --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
