Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessIdentify vulnerable TML multisite target
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DeliverySend crafted password-update request
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ExploitBypass missing identity validation
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ExecutionReset admin account password
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ImpactAuthenticate as compromised admin
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the target to run WordPress in multisite (network) mode with Theme My Login <= 7.2.1 installed in a specific configuration that exposes the unvalidated password-update code path; the description explicitly limits impact to 'multi-site setups in certain configurations,' so standard single-site installations are not stated to be affected. No authentication or user interaction is required once the vulnerable configuration is present (PR:N/UI:N), but the non-default multisite requirement is the primary limiting factor that reduces the realistic attack surface well below what the 9.8 base score implies. |
| Impact | The input CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 9.8) rates this as a critical, trivially-exploitable remote unauthenticated flaw, but this conflicts with the description, which explicitly scopes exploitation to 'multi-site setups in certain configurations.' That caveat means the AC:L (low complexity) and unconditional network reach implied by the 9.8 score overstate real-world exposure - the flaw is not universally exploitable against a default single-site WordPress install, so the effective attack complexity is higher than the vector claims. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or public POC was provided in the intelligence, so there is no evidence of active exploitation or weaponization; exploitation status is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' Net assessment: a genuinely serious privilege-escalation/account-takeover bug (full admin compromise is possible via password reset) that warrants prompt patching on affected WordPress multisite deployments, but the 9.8 headline likely overstates the practical threat because the vulnerable code path depends on a non-default multisite configuration. Verify the exact triggering configuration with Wordfence before deprioritizing. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | On a vulnerable WordPress multisite network running Theme My Login <= 7.2.1 in a susceptible configuration, a remote unauthenticated attacker submits a crafted password-update request that the plugin processes without properly validating the requester's identity. The attacker sets a new password for an arbitrary target account - including a network or site administrator - and then logs in to take full control. No public exploit code was identified at the time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 16, 2026
Privilege escalation in the Theme My Login plugin for WordPress (versions up to and including 7.2.1) allows unauthenticated attackers to change arbitrary user passwords on multisite installations in certain configurations, leading to account takeover and potential full network compromise. The flaw stems from improper validation of user identity before password updates (CWE-269). Exploitation requires a non-default multisite setup, and no public exploit code is identified at time of analysis; the effective attack complexity is higher than the base CVSS 9.8 score implies due to this configuration dependency.
RemediationAI
Update the Theme My Login plugin to the latest available version from the WordPress plugin repository, which includes the fix committed in changeset 3696081. No exact patched version number is provided in the data, but the changeset likely corresponds to a release beyond 7.2.1. If immediate update is not possible, consider disabling the plugin on multisite networks until patched, as the vulnerability only affects multisite setups in specific configurations. As a compensating control, restrict access to the plugin's password update or reset endpoints via server configuration or a security plugin, though this may break legitimate functionality. Monitor for unauthorized password changes. Refer to the Wordfence advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/53c548be-b8aa-4949-93f8-7b4d73688540?source=cve) and the plugin changeset (https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3696081/theme-my-login) for additional details.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability resides in the Theme My Login plugin, which customizes WordPress login and password reset functionality. It is classified as CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) because the plugin fails to verify that the user requesting a password change is the legitimate account owner before updating the password. On WordPress multisite networks, user accounts are shared across all sites, so a successful password change for any user can grant access to the entire network. The CPE string cpe:2.3:a:jfarthing84:theme_my_login:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* indicates that all versions of the plugin from vendor jfarthing84 are potentially affected, though the vulnerability is confirmed in versions up to and including 7.2.1. The specific configuration that exposes the unvalidated password-update code path is not detailed, but it likely involves an unauthenticated action or shortcode that triggers the password reset process without proper identity checks. A patch has been committed in changeset 3696081 of the WordPress plugin repository.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Unauthenticated and network-reachable (PR:N/AV:N), but the required multisite-plus-specific-configuration dependency justifies AC:H; account takeover yields full C/I/A impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (Wordfence).
CVSS VectorVendor: Wordfence
DescriptionCVE.org
The Theme My Login plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation via account takeover in versions up to, and including, 7.2.1. This is due to the plugin not properly validating a user's identity prior to updating their password. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to change arbitrary user's passwords on multi-site setups in certain configurations.
Articles & Coverage 1
Executive ViewAI
A critical privilege-escalation flaw in the Theme My Login plugin for WordPress (versions up to and including 7.2.1) allows attackers to change arbitrary user passwords on affected multisite installations, enabling account takeover that could cascade into full compromise of a WordPress network. Because the flaw sits in a widely deployed authentication plugin and no vendor patch is yet available (CVE-2026-89079, CVSS 9.8), any organization running multisite WordPress - particularly those hosting many sites or high-privilege administrator accounts under one installation - should treat this as an urgent exposure. Leadership should note that exploitation is only practical where a non-default multisite configuration is in use, which narrows the risk population but does not reduce the severity for those affected.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: deactivate or remove the Theme My Login plugin on affected multisite installations; disable multisite where it is not required; restrict and monitor access to wp-login.php and admin-ajax.php; force credential resets and MFA re-enrollment for privileged accounts; deploy WAF or virtual-patching rules to block unauthenticated password-change requests; and enable alerting on user password-change events to detect attempted account takeover.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.
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