Incorrect authorization in WP Data Access allows privilege escalation
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- 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-863.
Summary
The WP Data Access plugin for WordPress is affected in all versions through 5.5.89. Its write endpoints pass attacker-supplied key and val parameters to database writes without enforcing row and column restrictions (CWE-863). An attacker with Subscriber-level access can overwrite arbitrary rows, including the administrator password, and then log in as administrator. Unauthenticated attackers can do the same if an anonymous Data App allows writes.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
The WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Incorrect Authorization leading to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 5.5.89 This is due to the plugin's write endpoints (`wpda/app/update`, `wpda/app/delete`, `wpda/app/insert`) passing the attacker-supplied `key` and `val` parameters directly to `$wpdadb->update`, `$wpdadb->delete`, and `$wpdadb->insert` without enforcing the container's row-filter (`defaultWhere`) or per-column allow-list (`isSelected`) restrictions that are correctly applied on the read endpoints. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to write to arbitrary rows and columns outside the configured restrictions — including overwriting the `user_pass` field of the WordPress administrator account in `wp_users` — and subsequently authenticate as the administrator, achieving full site takeover. Exploitation requires an administrator to have published a Data App that enables write transactions (update, delete, or insert) for Subscriber-level or anonymous users, which is an explicitly advertised use-case of the plugin. Exploitation by unauthenticated attackers requires that the administrator has published a Data App whose rest_api.authorization is 'anonymous' and whose container has transactions.update (or delete/insert) enabled. On a default installation, where that is not configured, the vulnerability requires attackers with subscriber-level access and above.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| peterschulznl | WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps | up to 5.5.89 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps Vendorpeterschulznl Affected up to 5.5.89 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for WP Data Access (App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps).
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Timeline
- 2026-11-07 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-118267
- 2026-11-07 Alias added: GHSA-v86c-jgq8-6hrh
- 2026-11-07 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-11-07 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
References
Other 7
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a81029fe-db29-4dd4-8450-65d1764855f1?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-data-access/tags/5.5.89/WPDataAccess/API/WPDA_Apps.php#L1213
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-data-access/tags/5.5.89/WPDataAccess/API/WPDA_Apps.php#L1267
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-data-access/tags/5.5.89/WPDataAccess/API/WPDA_Apps.php#L1186
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-data-access/tags/5.5.89/WPDataAccess/API/WPDA_Table.php#L665
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-data-access/tags/5.5.89/WPDataAccess/API/WPDA_Apps.php#L382
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&new=3771310%40wp-data-access%2Ftags%2F5.5.90&old=3761178%40wp-data-access%2Ftags%2F5.5.89
More peterschulznl vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-11530 WP Data Access – App, Table, Form and Chart Builder plugin <= 5.5.22 - Unauthenticated SQL Injection CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-02796 Authorization bypass in peterschulznl WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2026-86444 Stored cross-site scripting in WP Data Access WordPress plugin CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
- TI-2026-86441 Stored cross-site scripting in WP Data Access WordPress plugin CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
- TI-2026-86440 Stored cross-site scripting in WP Data Access WordPress plugin CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
- TI-2026-00359 WP Data Access <= 5.5.63 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'wpda_app' Shortcode CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
Sources
- CVE-2026-118267 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-118267 · NVD
- GHSA-v86c-jgq8-6hrh · 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