Categories
CVE-2026-80099 high CVSS 8.8

Authentication Bypass in WordPress (CVE-2026-80099)

Summary

Authentication bypass in WordPress (CVE-2026-80099). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. Exploitable via rest_authentication_errors.

Original description

The description as published by the source.

Several Newfold plugins are vulnerable to Authentication Bypass. The vulnerability exists because the plugins bundle the wp-module-data module. In the module, the authenticate() method — registered on the rest_authentication_errors filter and therefore evaluated for every unauthenticated REST API request — performs an HMAC-style Bearer token comparison that degenerates when HiiveConnection::get_auth_token() returns false: PHP coerces strrev(false) to strrev(''), collapsing the secret salt to the publicly known constant hash('sha256', '') = e3b0c44..., while all remaining hash inputs (HTTP method, request URL, raw request body, and the X-Timestamp header) remain fully attacker-controlled. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to compute a valid Bearer token entirely offline, pass the token equality check, and have wp_set_current_user() invoked against the first administrator returned by get_users(['role' => 'administrator']), granting full administrator-level access and enabling arbitrary REST API operations such as creating new administrator accounts and achieving complete site takeover. Vulnerable versions are WP Plugin Crazy Domains (<= 2.5.2), WP Plugin Web (<= 2.3.4), WP Plugin Hostgator (<= 3.1.0), WP Plugin Bluehost (<= 4.17.1). The affected module is vulnerable in versions up to, and including, 2.9.4.

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database 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-2026-80099 has been found in WordPress.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like rest_authentication_errors over the network to misuse the product.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 8.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "WordPress CVE-2026-80099" on the vendor's site.

CVE-2026-80099 (WordPress) — CWE-287 / CVSS v3 8.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / no user interaction
Attack surface: rest_authentication_errors / 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.

❓ What is the problem

Authentication bypass (CWE-287) exists in WordPress. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via rest_authentication_errors.

📍 Affected scope

Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of WordPress. Attack surface: rest_authentication_errors / false.

🔥 Severity

Severity: High (CVSS 8.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.

🔧 How to fix

Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.

🛡️ Workaround

Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.

🔍 Detection

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

  1. 1
    Identify 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。

  2. 2
    Post-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

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