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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Recon
    Obtain valid Shop Manager credentials
  2. Delivery
    Craft WXR XML with users_can_register=1 and default_role=administrator options
  3. Exploit
    Upload malicious WXR via WordPress import interface
  4. Install
    import_start hook triggers rum_importer() with no capability check
  5. C2
    Arbitrary options written to WordPress database
  6. Execute
    Register new account at site registration URL
  7. Impact
    Attain Administrator access and full site takeover

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 an authenticated session with Shop Manager-level access (or higher) within a WordPress installation running WooCommerce and ShopEngine 4.9.4 or earlier. WooCommerce must be active because it is the source of the import capability grant to the Shop Manager role; without WooCommerce, Shop Managers do not ordinarily possess that capability. The WordPress Importer (core feature or plugin) must be accessible to the Shop Manager account. The critical limiting factor is possession of a valid Shop Manager (or Administrator) account - unauthenticated attackers cannot reach the import_start hook. There is no requirement for any non-standard plugin configuration beyond the default ShopEngine installation on a WooCommerce site. Exploitation is not limited by network position (AV:N, AC:L) once credentials are available: the import endpoint is accessible over the standard web interface. Post-exploitation open registration persists until the users_can_register option is reverted, meaning the window of exposure for secondary attacker account creation extends beyond the initial attack session.

Impact

The NVD-assigned CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects network accessibility and high CIA impact but applies PR:H because exploitation requires Shop Manager-level credentials. This PR:H rating may cause teams to deprioritize the finding, but real-world risk is materially higher than the score implies: Shop Manager is a routinely delegated role in WooCommerce stores (store staff, contractors, fulfillment partners), and compromise of any such account directly translates to full WordPress Administrator takeover within a single, low-complexity attack step. The S:U (Unchanged scope) designation in the vendor vector is debatable - the vulnerability in ShopEngine's import handler ultimately writes to WordPress core option tables and creates administrator accounts, which crosses the plugin's own security boundary into the WordPress installation as a whole; this analysis independently assesses S:C. No EPSS score, no CISA KEV entry, and no confirmed public exploit code were present in the provided data, so exploitation probability cannot be quantified, but the attack primitive is trivial: craft a WXR XML file with two option entries and run a standard WordPress import. The Wordfence advisory documents the exact mechanism, reducing any meaningful barrier to exploitation. The primary limiting factor is possessing an authenticated Shop Manager account, making this a significant risk for any multi-user WooCommerce deployment.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker with a Shop Manager account - obtained through credential theft, phishing of a store employee, or abuse of a shared fulfillment account - crafts a WXR XML file containing two <wp:option> entries: one setting users_can_register to 1 and one setting default_role to administrator. The attacker uploads this file through the standard WordPress import interface, which fires the import_start hook and invokes ShopEngine's unguarded rum_importer(), writing both options to the database. The attacker (or a collaborator) then registers a new user account at the site's registration URL, receives Administrator privileges automatically, and has unrestricted control over the WordPress installation. No public exploit code is confirmed in the provided data, but the attack requires only standard WordPress tooling and a valid WXR file.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 25, 2026

Privilege escalation in ShopEngine (all versions up to and including 4.9.4) allows Shop Manager-level authenticated users to achieve full WordPress site takeover by injecting arbitrary core options through a malicious WXR import file. The plugin's rum_importer() function is hooked to the WordPress core import_start action without any plugin-owned capability check or allowlist filtering, meaning attacker-controlled <wp_option> pairs from a crafted import file flow directly into update_option() - enabling manipulation of users_can_register and default_role to open administrator self-registration. No CISA KEV listing or EPSS score was present in the provided data; exploitation requires an existing Shop Manager account and WooCommerce's grant of the import capability to that role, but once those conditions are met the path to full site compromise is straightforward and documented.

RemediationAI

Update ShopEngine to a version beyond 4.9.4; however, the exact patched release version is not independently confirmed from the provided data - consult the Wordfence advisory at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4045d49f-fd12-4906-9e60-97fdb082fe84 and the WordPress.org plugin repository for the latest available release before upgrading. As an immediate compensating control while a patch is evaluated, revoke the import capability from all Shop Manager-level user accounts using a capability management plugin (e.g., User Role Editor); this severs the attack path at the hook-access layer but may disrupt legitimate import workflows for store staff. A second-layer control is to audit the users_can_register and default_role WordPress options via the database or Settings > General to confirm no unauthorized changes have already been made. If ShopEngine cannot be updated or the import capability cannot be safely revoked, consider temporarily deactivating the ShopEngine plugin on any WordPress site with active Shop Manager accounts until a verified patched version is available. Do not rely on restricting file upload types alone, as the WXR file is a standard XML format accepted by the WordPress core importer.

Affected VersionsENISA

ShopEngine Elementor WooCommerce Builder Addon – All in One WooCommerce Solution with eCommerce Templates & Woo Widgets 0 ≤4.9.4

Affected Packages

euvd shopengine_elementor_woocommerce_builder_addon_all_in_one_woocommerce_solution_with_ecommerce_templates_woo_widgets no fix

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

ShopEngine is a WooCommerce store-builder plugin for WordPress using Elementor, by Roxnor/Wpmet. The vulnerability is rooted in CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management): the rum_importer() function in core/export-import/import.php is registered as a callback on WordPress's import_start action hook, which fires during the WordPress Importer flow when a WXR (WordPress eXtended RSS) file is processed. WXR files are XML-based and can carry arbitrary <wp:option> name/value pairs. Because rum_importer() applies no plugin-level capability check and no allowlist of permissible option names before passing parsed option data to update_option(), any <wp_option> in the attacker-supplied import file is written directly to the WordPress options table. The critical primitives are setting users_can_register to 1 (enabling public registration) and default_role to administrator (making every new registrant an admin). WooCommerce's Shop Manager role is granted the import capability, which is sufficient to reach the WordPress Importer flow that triggers this hook - the plugin author incorrectly assumed import_start was restricted to Administrators. Vulnerable code is visible at plugins.trac.wordpress.org in shopengine/tags/4.9.4/core/export-import/import.php at lines 19 and 45.

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Severity by source

Vendor (Wordfence) PRIMARY 7.2 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 9.1 CRITICAL

Shop Manager access (PR:H) is required, but the exploit writes WordPress core options enabling administrator self-registration, crossing the plugin boundary into the broader installation (S:C).

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H

Primary rating from Vendor (Wordfence).

CVSS VectorVendor: Wordfence

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

DescriptionCVE.org

The ShopEngine Elementor WooCommerce Builder Addon - All in One WooCommerce Solution plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.9.4. This is due to the rum_importer() function being registered on the WordPress core import_start action hook with no plugin-owned capability check and no allowlist filtering, causing arbitrary <wp_option> name/value pairs parsed from an attacker-supplied WXR import file to be passed directly to update_option(). This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Shop Manager-level access and above, to write arbitrary WordPress options - most critically setting users_can_register to 1 and default_role to administrator - enabling open self-registration of Administrator accounts and full site takeover. This is exploitable by Shop Manager-level users because WooCommerce grants that role the import capability, allowing it to reach the WordPress Importer flow that fires the import_start hook on which rum_importer() is registered, contrary to the assumption that the hook is restricted to Administrators.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

ShopEngine (versions up to 4.9.4) contains a privilege escalation vulnerability allowing authenticated Shop Manager-level users to achieve full WordPress site takeover by injecting malicious options through WXR import files. This directly threatens site integrity, data security, and operational continuity for any organization running the affected plugin. Organizations must immediately assess their Shop Manager user base and restrict plugin capabilities pending a vendor patch.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: revoke the WordPress import capability from Shop Manager role via custom security plugin or code; disable WXR file upload/import at the application or server level; restrict WXR imports to Administrator-only access if functionality is essential; enable detailed logging and alerting on WordPress option updates; implement IP-based access controls limiting who can access WordPress admin import interface; conduct weekly audits of user roles and import logs for unauthorized activity.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 76% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
popular WooCommerce Elementor store-builder plugin
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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 No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available No
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

36
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +36
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

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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