Predictable password in UsersWP lets attackers access dummy accounts
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
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| stiofansisland | UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP | up to 1.2.78 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- 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
- 2026-10-31 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-119980
- 2026-10-31 Alias added: GHSA-8qfx-8gpq-wc4q
- 2026-11-01 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-11-02 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 7
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/7c458034-9c44-4b46-8845-4c05bea043a0?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.78/includes/class-tools.php#L606
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.78/includes/class-templates.php#L850
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.78/includes/class-forms.php#L5244
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/userswp/tags/1.2.78/includes/class-userswp.php#L565
- https://github.com/AyeCode/userswp/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3774438/userswp/trunk/includes/class-tools.php
More stiofansisland vulnerabilities
- 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
Sources
- CVE-2026-119980 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-119980 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8qfx-8gpq-wc4q · 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