CVE-2026-39504
Missing Authorization in InstaWP Connect Enables Unauthorized Access
Publication date: 2026-04-08
Last updated on: 2026-04-29
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| instawp | instawp_connect | From 0.1.2 (inc) to 0.1.2.5 (inc) |
| instawp | instawp_connect | to 0.1.2.5 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-862 | The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The CVE-2026-39504 vulnerability is a Broken Access Control issue that allows unauthorized privilege escalation due to missing authorization checks in the InstaWP Connect plugin. Such vulnerabilities can potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functions.
While the provided information does not explicitly mention compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA, broken access control vulnerabilities generally pose risks to data confidentiality and integrity, which are critical aspects of these regulations. Failure to properly control access could result in unauthorized data exposure or modification, potentially leading to non-compliance with data protection requirements.
Therefore, organizations using affected versions of the plugin should consider the risk of this vulnerability in their compliance assessments and promptly apply the recommended patch to mitigate potential regulatory impacts.
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
CVE-2026-39504 is a Broken Access Control vulnerability found in the WordPress InstaWP Connect plugin versions up to and including 0.1.2.5.
The issue arises because certain plugin functions lack proper authorization, authentication, or nonce token checks, which means that users without sufficient privileges can perform actions that should be restricted.
This vulnerability falls under the OWASP Top 10 category A1: Broken Access Control.
It requires the attacker to have at least a Subscriber or Developer role to exploit.
The vulnerability was fixed in version 0.1.2.7 of the plugin.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability allows unauthorized users with at least Subscriber or Developer privileges to perform actions that require higher privileges, effectively enabling privilege escalation.
While the severity is considered low (CVSS score 5.4), it could be exploited in mass campaigns affecting many websites regardless of their popularity or traffic.
If exploited, it could lead to unauthorized changes or access within the affected WordPress site, potentially compromising site integrity or security.
Updating the plugin to version 0.1.2.7 or later mitigates this risk.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
This vulnerability is a Broken Access Control issue in the InstaWP Connect WordPress plugin versions up to 0.1.2.5, caused by missing authorization checks. Detection involves verifying the plugin version installed on your WordPress site.
You can detect if your system is vulnerable by checking the installed version of the InstaWP Connect plugin. For example, you can use WP-CLI commands to list plugin versions:
- wp plugin list --status=active
Look for the 'instawp-connect' plugin and check if its version is less than or equal to 0.1.2.5. If so, your system is vulnerable.
Additionally, monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts or unauthorized actions by users with Subscriber or Developer roles could indicate exploitation attempts, but no specific network commands or signatures are provided.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
The primary and immediate mitigation step is to update the InstaWP Connect plugin to version 0.1.2.7 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched.
If automatic updates are enabled via Patchstack's auto-update feature, ensure it is active to facilitate rapid patching.
Until the update is applied, restrict user roles such as Subscriber or Developer from performing sensitive actions that could be exploited due to missing authorization checks.