CVE-2026-57774 Overview
CVE-2026-57774 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the vowelweb VW Food Corner WordPress theme. The flaw impacts all versions up to and including 1.1.0. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to reach functionality that should be restricted. The issue is network-exploitable, requires no authentication, and requires no user interaction. Successful exploitation affects availability but does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can access restricted theme functionality over the network due to broken access control, potentially degrading site availability.
Affected Products
- vowelweb VW Food Corner WordPress Theme
- All versions from n/a through 1.1.0
- WordPress sites using the vulnerable theme
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-13 - CVE-2026-57774 published to NVD
- 2026-07-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-57774
Vulnerability Analysis
The VW Food Corner WordPress theme fails to enforce proper authorization checks on one or more endpoints. This condition is classified under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. The theme exposes functionality without validating whether the caller has the required privilege level. Because the attack vector is the network and no privileges or user interaction are required, any remote actor can send crafted requests to affected endpoints. The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) rates this CVE with a probability of 0.293%.
Root Cause
The root cause is an incorrectly configured access control security level within the theme's code. Sensitive actions lack capability checks such as current_user_can() or nonce verification via check_admin_referer(). WordPress themes commonly register AJAX handlers or admin actions that must gate execution behind role verification. When these gates are missing, unauthenticated callers reach code paths intended for privileged users.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends HTTP requests directly to the exposed theme endpoints. No authentication or session context is required. Because the impact profile shows availability degradation only, exploitation likely triggers state changes or resource operations rather than data exfiltration. The vulnerability manifests in theme handlers that omit authorization validation. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability advisory for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-57774
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthenticated HTTP POST or GET requests to VW Food Corner theme endpoints under /wp-content/themes/vw-food-corner/
- Requests to admin-ajax.php invoking theme-specific actions without a valid wordpress_logged_in_* cookie
- Unexpected changes to theme settings or options in the wp_options table
Detection Strategies
- Review web server access logs for anomalous request patterns to theme-controlled URIs from single-source IPs
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set to flag WordPress theme AJAX calls lacking authentication cookies
- Correlate WordPress audit logs with network telemetry to identify privilege boundary violations
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress audit logging plugin to record theme option changes and administrative actions
- Monitor for spikes in traffic to admin-ajax.php with action= parameters tied to the VW Food Corner theme
- Alert on any modification to theme files or persistent theme options outside change windows
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-57774
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress installations running VW Food Corner version 1.1.0 or earlier
- Switch affected sites to a supported theme until a vendor patch is verified
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and admin-ajax.php using IP allowlists or authentication proxies where feasible
- Deploy WAF rules blocking unauthenticated requests to theme AJAX actions
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed version is listed in the advisory. The vulnerability affects versions up to and including 1.1.0. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the vendor's release channel for a patched version. Apply the update as soon as it becomes available and validate that authorization checks are enforced on all theme endpoints.
Workarounds
- Replace VW Food Corner with an alternative theme until a patched release is available
- Add virtual patching rules at the WAF layer to reject requests to vulnerable endpoints from unauthenticated sources
- Enforce authentication at the reverse proxy for administrative URIs
- Disable unused theme features and remove inactive themes from the WordPress installation
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
