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Predictable password in UsersWP lets attackers access dummy accounts

Priority LOW 34CWE-287Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · None
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-287.

Summary

The UsersWP plugin for WordPress through 1.2.78 uses a predictable password for its built-in dummy user accounts. The password is derived from a value that the plugin also embeds in registration form responses, so an unauthenticated remote attacker can recover it and log in as any of the 25 built-in dummy accounts. Exploitation requires that an administrator has previously created dummy users through the plugin's Tools page, and a dummy account holding an elevated role could lead to privilege escalation (CWE-287).

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-02

Description from the CNA

The UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized account access via Use of Predictable Password in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.78 The vulnerability exists because `get_dummy_user_passowrd()` derives the shared password for all 25 built-in dummy user accounts as the first 15 characters of `substr(hash('SHA256', AUTH_KEY . site_url()), 0, 25)`, while the full 25-character value of that same hash is simultaneously embedded in the hidden `uwp_register_hash` field rendered on every registration form response — reachable without authentication via both the public `/register/` page and the `wp_ajax_nopriv_uwp_ajax_register_form` AJAX handler, even when user registration is disabled. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to recover the dummy user password directly from a single HTTP request and use it to authenticate as any of the 25 built-in dummy accounts (such as antawn, chynna, or kiki) through `wp-login.php`, potentially achieving privilege escalation if any dummy account holds an elevated role. Exploitation requires that an administrator has previously created dummy users via the plugin's Tools page.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00263 18th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
stiofansislandUsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WPup to 1.2.78—No fix listedCNA
  • UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP Vendorstiofansisland Affected up to 1.2.78 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

Remediation

The sources list no fixed version for UsersWP (Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP).

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-02

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-31 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-119980
  2. 2026-10-31 Alias added: GHSA-8qfx-8gpq-wc4q
  3. 2026-11-01 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  4. 2026-11-02 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

  • TI-2026-11418 UsersWP <= 1.2.65 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary File Deletion via File Upload Field CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-10027 Events Calendar for GeoDirectory <= 2.3.28 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Privilege Escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2025-09182 SQL injection in stiofansisland UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
  • TI-2026-16210 UsersWP <= 1.2.70 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary File Deletion CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2026-14436 Payment forms, Buy now buttons, and Invoicing System | GetPaid <= 2.8.56 - Authenticated… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.6
  • TI-2026-76068 Stored cross-site scripting in GetPaid WordPress plugin CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.2
See all 13 →

Sources