CVE-2026-78175
Received Received - Intake

PHP Object Injection in Tutor LMS WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-09-12

Last updated on: 2026-09-12

Assigner: Wordfence

Description
The Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 4.0.7 via the `withdraw_method_field` parameter of the `tutor_save_withdraw_account` AJAX handler. This is due to the handler lacking any capability or role check, relying solely on a nonce, while also passing attacker-supplied values through `esc_sql()`, which replaces every `%` character with a 66-byte HMAC placeholder token before the data is serialized and stored via `update_user_meta()`; when the meta is later retrieved, the placeholder is collapsed back to a single `%`, leaving serialized string length declarations 65 bytes greater than the actual content, and because array keys originate from entirely unescaped POST field names, `unserialize()` over-reads into attacker-controlled bytes, allowing injection of an arbitrary serialized object stream. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to achieve remote code execution on the server by triggering the `GuzzleHttp\Cookie\FileCookieJar` POP chain, reachable via the `spl_autoload_register` loader in `TUTOR\RestAPI` which loads the plugin's own bundled PayPal Composer autoloader, writing attacker-controlled content to an attacker-specified filename. This has an unauthenticated pathway when user registration is enabled, which is common for students and teachers to register, and it requires the monetization feature to be enabled.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-12
Last Modified
2026-09-12
Generated
2026-09-12
AI Q&A
2026-09-12
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-78175
EUVD
EUVD-2026-76834

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
themeum tutor_lms to 4.0.7 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-502 The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a PHP Object Injection flaw in the Tutor LMS WordPress plugin. It allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access or higher to execute remote code on the server. The issue stems from improper handling of the withdraw_method_field parameter, which lacks capability checks and relies on a nonce. Attackers can manipulate serialized data stored in user metadata, leading to arbitrary object injection via a POP chain involving GuzzleHttp's FileCookieJar.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, check for unauthorized serialized data in WordPress user meta tables, particularly in the `wp_usermeta` table for the `withdraw_method_field` parameter. Inspect AJAX requests to `/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php` with the action `tutor_save_withdraw_account` and look for POST data containing the `withdraw_method_field` parameter. Monitor for unexpected file writes in the WordPress uploads directory or plugin directories, especially files matching attacker-specified filenames.

Impact Analysis

If you use the Tutor LMS plugin on your WordPress site, attackers could exploit this to take full control of your server. They could execute malicious code, steal sensitive data, or disrupt your website. The attack requires minimal access (subscriber role) and can be automated if user registration is enabled, which is common for educational platforms.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to severe compliance violations. Remote code execution may result in unauthorized access to personal data, violating GDPR's data protection requirements. For HIPAA-covered entities, it could expose protected health information, leading to breaches and legal penalties. The risk is heightened if user registration is enabled, as it expands the attack surface.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update the Tutor LMS plugin to the latest version beyond 4.0.7. Disable the monetization feature if enabled and restrict user registration if possible. Review server logs for suspicious activity related to the withdraw_method_field parameter.

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