CVE-2026-40737
Authorization Bypass in VillaTheme COMPE Plugin via Access Control Flaw
Publication date: 2026-04-15
Last updated on: 2026-04-15
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| villatheme | compe_woo_compare_products | to 1.1.4 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-639 | The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive files, folders, or database interactions without proper permissions due to broken access control.
Such unauthorized access could potentially lead to exposure of personal or sensitive data, which may impact compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
However, the provided information does not explicitly state the direct effects on compliance with these standards.
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is an Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key issue in the VillaTheme COMPE plugin called compe-woo-compare-products. It allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially bypassing authorization checks.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
The impact of this vulnerability could include unauthorized access to features or data within the affected plugin due to bypassed access controls. This could lead to exposure or manipulation of information that should be restricted.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass authorization controls in the WordPress COMPE Plugin versions up to 1.1.4. Detection typically involves checking the plugin version installed on your WordPress site.
There are no specific network or system commands provided in the available resources to detect exploitation attempts or presence of this vulnerability.
To detect if your system is vulnerable, you can verify the installed version of the COMPE plugin. For example, within WordPress, you can check the plugin version via the admin dashboard or by inspecting the plugin files.
- Use WP-CLI command to check plugin version: wp plugin list | grep compe-woo-compare-products
- Manually check the plugin version in the plugin's main PHP file header or via the WordPress admin plugins page.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
The immediate and recommended mitigation step is to update the WordPress COMPE Plugin to version 1.1.5 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched.
If you are unable to update the plugin yourself, seek assistance from your hosting provider or web developer to perform the update.
Using automated update options provided by Patchstack can facilitate rapid mitigation.