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Shibboleth EUVDEUVD-2026-44594

| CVE-2026-12281 HIGH
Improper Authentication (CWE-287)
2026-07-15 WPScan GHSA-x945-qvjm-5rqp
8.1
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: WPScan
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication mechanism validation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Defense Evasion, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 15, 2026

Authentication bypass in the Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 lets remote unauthenticated attackers forge identity headers and log in when the HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key. Because the plugin fails open rather than closed, any request carrying identity headers is trusted as an authenticated session, and with automatic account creation plus the default administrator role mapping an attacker can provision and sign in as a brand-new administrator. Rated CVSS 8.1 (CWE-287); publicly available exploit code exists (WPScan), but it is not listed in CISA KEV.

Affected VersionsENISA

Shibboleth 0 <2.5.4

Affected Packages

euvd shibboleth fix: 2.5.4

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.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (WPScan) PRIMARY 8.1 HIGH
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from Vendor (WPScan) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: WPScan

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

4
CVSS changed
Jul 15, 2026 - 11:22 NVD
8.1 (HIGH)
Patch available
Jul 15, 2026 - 07:02 EUVD
CVE Published
Jul 15, 2026 - 06:00 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
Jul 15, 2026 - 06:00 cve.org
HIGH 8.1

DescriptionCVE.org

The Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 does not fail closed when its HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key, treating any request that carries identity headers as an authenticated session without verifying them. On a deployment where untrusted client headers reach the application, an unauthenticated attacker can log in with forged identity headers and, when automatic account creation and the default administrator role mapping are enabled, create and sign in as a new administrator. Exploitation requires the non-default HTTP header attribute mode, an empty or absent spoof key, automatic account creation enabled, and a deployment that does not strip untrusted client headers before they reach the application.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The Shibboleth WordPress plugin (versions before 2.5.4) contains an authentication bypass vulnerability enabling unauthenticated remote attackers to create administrator accounts and assume complete control of affected WordPress sites. Organizations using this plugin for identity management face immediate risk of unauthorized administrative access, content manipulation, and potential data exposure. Publicly available exploit code exists, making this vulnerability readily exploitable without advanced technical capability.

Recommended Action

Within 24 hours, inventory all WordPress installations using the Shibboleth plugin, identify versions prior to 2.5.4, and evaluate disabling HTTP header identity mode to eliminate the attack vector until patching is possible. Within 7 days, update the Shibboleth WordPress plugin to version 2.5.4 or later across all affected sites and audit administrator accounts for any unauthorized access created during the vulnerability window. Within 30 days, review access logs for exploitation evidence, establish ongoing monitoring for suspicious administrative account creation, and document the incident timeline for compliance and security posture assessment.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Disable HTTP header identity mode in Shibboleth plugin configuration to eliminate the attack surface pending patch deployment. Monitor WordPress user creation and administrative account logs for suspicious activity. Apply vendor patch: Shibboleth WordPress plugin version 2.5.4 or later.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 95% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

60
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +40
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

CVE-2023-36661 HIGH POC
7.5 Jun 25

Shibboleth XMLTooling before 3.2.4, as used in OpenSAML and Shibboleth Service Provider, allows SSRF via a crafted KeyIn

CVE-2019-19191 HIGH POC
7.8 Nov 21

Shibboleth Service Provider (SP) 3.x before 3.1.0 shipped a spec file that calls chown on files in a directory controlle

CVE-2021-31826 HIGH POC
7.5 Apr 27

Shibboleth Service Provider 3.x before 3.2.2 is prone to a NULL pointer dereference flaw involving the session recovery

CVE-2023-22947 HIGH POC
7.3 Jan 11

Insecure folder permissions in the Windows installation path of Shibboleth Service Provider (SP) before 3.4.1 allow an u

CVE-2017-16853 HIGH
8.1 Nov 16

The DynamicMetadataProvider class in saml/saml2/metadata/impl/DynamicMetadataProvider.cpp in OpenSAML-C in OpenSAML befo

CVE-2017-16852 HIGH
8.1 Nov 16

shibsp/metadata/DynamicMetadataProvider.cpp in the Dynamic MetadataProvider plugin in Shibboleth Service Provider before

CVE-2020-27978 HIGH
7.5 Oct 28

Shibboleth Identify Provider 3.x before 3.4.6 has a denial of service flaw. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnera

CVE-2018-0489 MEDIUM
6.5 Feb 27

Shibboleth XMLTooling-C before 1.6.4, as used in Shibboleth Service Provider before 2.6.1.4 on Windows and other product

CVE-2018-0486 MEDIUM
6.5 Jan 13

Shibboleth XMLTooling-C before 1.6.3, as used in Shibboleth Service Provider before 2.6.0 on Windows and other products,

CVE-2017-14313 MEDIUM
6.1 Sep 12

The shibboleth_login_form function in shibboleth.php in the Shibboleth plugin before 1.8 for WordPress is prone to an XS

CVE-2021-28963 MEDIUM
5.3 Mar 22

Shibboleth Service Provider before 3.2.1 allows content injection because template generation uses attacker-controlled p

CVE-2013-6440 MEDIUM
5.0 Feb 14

The (1) BasicParserPool, (2) StaticBasicParserPool, (3) XML Decrypter, and (4) SAML Decrypter in Shibboleth OpenSAML-Jav

References

Advisories & patches

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