Login as User <= 1.0.3 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Privilege Escalation via 'oclaup_original_admin' Cookie
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-639.
Summary
The Login as User plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.3. This is due to the handle_return_to_admin() function trusting a client-controlled cookie (oclaup_original_admin) to determine which user to authenticate as, without any server-side verification that the cookie value was legitimately set during an admin-initiated user switch. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to escalate their privileges to administrator by setting the oclaup_original_admin cookie to an administrator's user ID and triggering the "Return to Admin" functionality.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| royalnavneet | Login as User – Switch User & WooCommerce Login as Customer | up to 1.0.1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Login as User – Switch User & WooCommerce Login as Customer Vendorroyalnavneet Affected up to 1.0.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-5617
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-679q-mrgx-wpvr
References
Other 5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/c0c74d48-6cfc-4899-bd2c-4a80b1f6e05f?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/one-click-login-as-user/trunk/includes/class-login-handler.php#L45
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/one-click-login-as-user/tags/1.0.3/includes/class-login-handler.php#L45
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/one-click-login-as-user/tags/1.0.3/includes/class-login-handler.php#L50
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/one-click-login-as-user/
More royalnavneet vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-68302 Missing authorization in WordPress Delete All Comments plugin CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2022-04562 Freemius SDK <= 2.4.2 - Missing Authorization Checks CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-5617 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-5617 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-679q-mrgx-wpvr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences