Authentication Bypass in WordPress (CVE-2026-15341)
Summary
Authentication bypass in WordPress (CVE-2026-15341). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. Exploitable via init.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
The User Session Synchronizer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass leading to Account Takeover in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.0. The synchronize_session() function, hooked on init and therefore executed on every request, performs no nonce, capability, or shared-secret validation against the attacker-supplied ussync-key, ussync-token, and ussync-ref parameters; when ussync-key references an unregistered slot, get_option() returns false for both the secret key and the domain list, causing the AES-256-CBC encryption key to degrade to the fully predictable md5('') and the referer allowlist to collapse to an empty-string match, while the AES IV is unconditionally hard-coded as md5('another-secret'). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to supply a crafted request encrypting any known or guessable user email address in the ussync-ref parameter, causing the handler to call wp_set_auth_cookie() for the matched user and granting full authentication as that user — including administrators — with no prior knowledge of site secrets.
Source: GitHub Security Advisories (Global) NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-15341 has been found in WordPress.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like init over the network to misuse the product.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 9.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "WordPress CVE-2026-15341" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-15341 (WordPress) — CWE-287 / CVSS v3 9.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Attack surface: init / false
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Authentication bypass (CWE-287) exists in WordPress. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via init without authentication.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of WordPress. Attack surface: init / false.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
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1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで WordPress を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
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2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
References
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web security@wordfence.com
- web security@wordfence.com
- web security@wordfence.com
- web security@wordfence.com
- web security@wordfence.com
- web security@wordfence.com
- web security@wordfence.com
- web github.com