CVE-2026-24971
Incorrect Privilege Assignment in Search & Go Plugin Enables Escalation
Publication date: 2026-03-25
Last updated on: 2026-04-23
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
| Probability: | |
| Percentile: |
Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| elated_themes | search_go | to 2.8 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-266 | A product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
The CVE-2026-24971 vulnerability is a high-priority privilege escalation flaw found in the WordPress Search & Go Theme versions up to 2.8.
This vulnerability allows an attacker with low-level privileges (such as a subscriber or developer) to escalate their access rights to higher privileges, potentially gaining full control over the affected website.
It is classified under the OWASP Top 10 category A7: Identification and Authentication Failures.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can allow an attacker with limited access to escalate their privileges and gain full control over the affected website.
Such an escalation can lead to unauthorized changes, data theft, or complete takeover of the website.
Because the CVSS severity score is 9.8, it is highly dangerous and likely to be exploited in widespread attacks.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate the CVE-2026-24971 vulnerability, users are strongly advised to update the Search & Go Theme to version 2.8.1 or later, where the issue has been patched.
Until the update is applied, Patchstack provides an immediate mitigation rule that blocks attacks exploiting this vulnerability.
It is also recommended to seek assistance from hosting providers or web developers to ensure the patch is applied promptly and to prevent exploitation.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The CVE-2026-24971 vulnerability allows privilege escalation, enabling attackers with low-level access to gain higher privileges and potentially full control over the affected website. Such unauthorized access can lead to exposure or manipulation of sensitive data, which may impact compliance with standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA that require strict access controls and protection of personal or health information.
Because this vulnerability falls under the OWASP Top 10 category A7: Identification and Authentication Failures, it highlights a failure in proper privilege assignment and access control, which are critical components in regulatory compliance frameworks.
Therefore, if exploited, this vulnerability could result in non-compliance with data protection regulations due to unauthorized data access or modification.