CVE-2026-40728
Missing Authorization in Magazine Blocks ≤ 1.8.3 Enables Unauthorized Access
Publication date: 2026-04-15
Last updated on: 2026-04-29
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
| Probability: | |
| Percentile: |
Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| patchstack | blockart_magazine_blocks | to 1.8.3 (inc) |
| themegrill | magazine_blocks | to 1.8.3 (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
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
CVE-2026-40728 is a Broken Access Control vulnerability in the WordPress Magazine Blocks Plugin versions up to and including 1.8.3.
The issue arises from missing authorization, authentication, or nonce token checks within certain functions, which allows unprivileged users (such as those with Contributor or Developer privileges) to perform actions that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles.
This vulnerability falls under the OWASP Top 10 category A1: Broken Access Control.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability allows users with lower privileges to perform actions reserved for higher-privileged roles, potentially leading to unauthorized changes or access within the affected WordPress site.
Although the CVSS severity score is 4.3, indicating a low priority threat with limited impact, it can still be exploited in mass campaigns targeting many websites indiscriminately.
If exploited, it could compromise the integrity and security of the website by allowing unauthorized modifications.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
This vulnerability involves missing authorization checks in the Magazine Blocks WordPress plugin up to version 1.8.3, allowing lower-privileged users to perform restricted actions.
Detection can focus on identifying if the vulnerable plugin version is installed and if unauthorized privilege escalation attempts are occurring.
- Check the installed version of the Magazine Blocks plugin via WordPress admin dashboard or by running: wp plugin list | grep magazine-blocks
- Look for suspicious activity or unauthorized actions performed by users with Contributor or Developer roles in WordPress logs.
- Monitor web server access logs for unusual requests targeting Magazine Blocks plugin endpoints that might exploit access control weaknesses.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
The primary mitigation step is to update the Magazine Blocks plugin to version 1.8.4 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched.
Additionally, consider using Patchstack's mitigation services which include auto-updates for vulnerable plugins to reduce risk.
Review user roles and permissions to ensure that only trusted users have Contributor or Developer privileges, limiting potential exploitation.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The vulnerability is a Broken Access Control issue that allows users with lower privileges to perform actions reserved for higher-privileged roles due to missing authorization checks.
Such access control weaknesses can potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data or functionality, which may impact compliance with standards and regulations like GDPR or HIPAA that require strict access controls to protect personal or sensitive information.
However, the provided information does not explicitly state the direct impact of this vulnerability on compliance with these regulations.