CVE-2026-14281: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-h3w5-2jvm-gf7p
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-269
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-14281 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2026-14281 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-14281
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h3w5-2jvm-gf7p
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-14281

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-14281, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management, where the product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.8.6. This is due to missing permission enforcement on the publicly accessible REST route `POST /wp-json/wawp/v1/signup/<op>` and the absence of a key allowlist in the `finish_registration_logic` function, which copies the attacker-controlled `wawp_custom_fields` parameter directly into `update_user_meta()` — allowing sensitive meta keys such as `wp_capabilities` and `wp_user_level` to be set by the caller. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to register a new account with the administrator role and gain full administrative access to the site. When OTP verification is enabled at signup, the OTP session token (`otp_transient`) is returned in plaintext in the HTTP response body, and the `handle_magic_link_request()` handler marks that token as verified on any unauthenticated GET request containing it without ever checking the OTP code value — making the OTP step trivially bypassable with no inbox or SMS access required.

References

NVD — CVE-2026-14281 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-14281
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L342
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L574
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L477
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L787
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L1002
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L845
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L342
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L574
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L477
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L787
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L1002
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-... WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L845
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset WEB
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3679350%40automation-web-platform&new=3679350%40automation-web-platform
www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulner... WEB
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f17d3e43-29c6-4c80-912d-53ceda3fcb5d?source=cve

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-14281?
CVE-2026-14281 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2026-14281?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-14281?
CVE-2026-14281 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-14281?
CVE-2026-14281 is classified under CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management (The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-14281?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-h3w5-2jvm-gf7p",
  "modified" : "2026-09-25T09:31:04Z",
  "published" : "2026-09-25T09:31:04Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-14281" ],
  "details" : "The Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.8.6. This is due to missing permission enforcement on the publicly accessible REST route `POST /wp-json/wawp/v1/signup/<op>` and the absence of a key allowlist in the `finish_registration_logic` function, which copies the attacker-controlled `wawp_custom_fields` parameter directly into `update_user_meta()` — allowing sensitive meta keys such as `wp_capabilities` and `wp_user_level` to be set by the caller. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to register a new account with the administrator role and gain full administrative access to the site. When OTP verification is enabled at signup, the OTP session token (`otp_transient`) is returned in plaintext in the HTTP response body, and the `handle_magic_link_request()` handler marks that token as verified on any unauthenticated GET request containing it without ever checking the OTP code value — making the OTP step trivially bypassable with no inbox or SMS access required.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
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  }, {
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    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L342"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L574"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L477"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L787"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L1002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L845"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L342"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.php#L574"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L477"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-service.php#L787"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L1002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php#L845"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3679350%40automation-web-platform&new=3679350%40automation-web-platform"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f17d3e43-29c6-4c80-912d-53ceda3fcb5d?source=cve"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-269" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-09-25T07:16:53Z"
  }
}