Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain Subscriber-level account
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DeliveryAuthenticate to WordPress REST API
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ExploitPOST crafted nested-array to /wpgb/v2/metadata update()
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ExecutionOverwrite own wp_capabilities meta
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PersistGain Administrator role
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ImpactFull site takeover / code execution
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 | Requires a valid authenticated account at Subscriber level or above (PR:L) - the primary limiting factor, so sites without open/self-service user registration are substantially harder to exploit. The attack targets the specific REST endpoint |
| Impact | Signals are largely consistent toward a genuine high priority. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, 8.8) indicates a network-reachable, low-complexity attack needing only low privileges and no user interaction, yielding full confidentiality/integrity/availability impact via a resulting admin takeover. The one meaningful barrier is PR:L: the attacker must already hold a valid low-level account (Subscriber+), so exposure is highest on sites permitting open or self-service registration and lower on closed sites. No EPSS score, KEV entry, SSVC decision, or POC was provided in the intelligence, so widespread automated exploitation cannot be confirmed - the absence of these signals is a data gap, not evidence of low risk. Reported by Wordfence, the finding is credible; treat as high priority especially where user registration is enabled. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker registers (or acquires) a Subscriber account on a WordPress site running WP Grid Builder ≤ 2.3.3, then sends an authenticated POST to |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 11, 2026
Privilege escalation in the WP Grid Builder WordPress plugin (versions ≤ 2.3.3) lets an authenticated Subscriber-or-above user promote their own account to Administrator by sending a crafted nested-array payload to the /wp-json/wpgb/v2/metadata REST endpoint. The endpoint's update() handler lacks both an authorization check and meta-key validation, so an attacker can overwrite their own wp_capabilities user meta. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and the flaw is not on CISA KEV; with CVSS 8.8 and low attack complexity, it is a high-priority patch for any site running this plugin.
RemediationAI
Update WP Grid Builder to the first release above 2.3.3 as published on the vendor changelog (https://docs.wpgridbuilder.com/changelog/); the input data does not name an exact patched version, so no vendor-released patch version is independently confirmed here - verify the fixed build against the changelog before deploying. If an immediate update is not possible, reduce exposure by disabling open user registration (Settings → General → uncheck 'Anyone can register') so attackers cannot obtain the Subscriber account the attack requires, and by restricting or blocking access to the /wp-json/wpgb/v2/metadata REST route at the WAF/reverse-proxy layer; note that blocking the route may break legitimate plugin metadata operations, so test grid functionality afterward. Monitor for unexpected changes to wp_capabilities/role assignments and audit existing accounts for unauthorized administrators. Refer to the Wordfence advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/6a42e0e8-a8c7-4bc5-80ca-5ef69d1f0b6c?source=cve) for detection guidance.
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
WP Grid Builder is a commercial WordPress plugin for building filterable/faceted content grids. The flaw lives in a custom WordPress REST API route (wpgb/v2/metadata) whose update() callback is intended to persist plugin metadata but performs neither a capability/permission check nor a whitelist of which meta keys may be written. This maps to CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management): because arbitrary user_meta keys can be set, an attacker can target the special wp_capabilities meta that WordPress uses to store a user's role/capability map. Supplying a nested-array payload that sets administrator => true rewrites the caller's role. No CPE strings were supplied in the intelligence; the affected component is identified from the plugin slug and vendor changelog only.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Network-reachable REST endpoint with no user interaction and low complexity, but requires an existing Subscriber account (PR:L); admin takeover yields full C/I/A impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (wordfence).
CVSS VectorVendor: wordfence
DescriptionCVE.org
The WP Grid Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 2.3.3. This is due to missing authorization and meta key validation in the update() handler for the /wp-json/wpgb/v2/metadata REST endpoint. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to elevate their privileges to Administrator by updating their own wp_capabilities user meta with a crafted nested array payload.
Articles & Coverage 1
Executive ViewAI
WP Grid Builder WordPress plugin (≤2.3.3) allows Subscriber-level users to escalate privileges to Administrator by exploiting a REST API authorization flaw in the metadata endpoint. This enables complete website compromise including data theft and malware injection. With CVSS 8.8 severity and no patch currently available, immediate mitigation is critical for any WordPress site running this plugin.
Disable WP Grid Builder plugin if operationally non-critical; if required, implement WAF rules blocking /wp-json/wpgb/v2/metadata endpoint access; restrict REST API to essential authenticated endpoints only; enable comprehensive audit logging for user role and capability modifications; conduct immediate access review for unauthorized role escalations.
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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EUVD-2026-43118
GHSA-9qvw-92r9-h632
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB