CVE-2025-26741
📋 TL;DR
A missing authorization vulnerability in AWEOS GmbH's Email Notifications for Updates WordPress plugin allows attackers to escalate privileges. This affects all versions up to 1.1.6, potentially enabling unauthorized users to gain administrative access. WordPress sites using this plugin are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- AWEOS GmbH Email Notifications for Updates WordPress plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain full administrative control over the WordPress site, allowing them to install malicious plugins/themes, modify content, steal data, or establish persistent backdoors.
Likely Case
Attackers gain elevated privileges to modify site settings, create new admin accounts, or inject malicious code into pages.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, exploitation attempts are detected and blocked before privilege escalation occurs.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires some level of access but minimal technical skill to exploit once details are known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.1.7 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Email Notifications for Updates'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download version 1.1.7+ from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily disable the Email Notifications for Updates plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate wp-update-mail-notification
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized privilege changes
- Use web application firewall rules to block suspicious admin function calls
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Email Notifications for Updates version. If version is 1.1.6 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get wp-update-mail-notification --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.1.7 or later in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected user role changes in WordPress logs
- Unauthorized access to admin functions by non-admin users
Network Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to admin-ajax.php or admin endpoints from non-admin IPs
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="user_role_change" OR event="admin_function_access") AND user_role!="administrator"