CVE-2026-109400 Details
Description
The InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 0.1.4.1 This is due to the plugin registering its admin page via `add_management_page()` using a role name returned by `InstaWP_Setting::get_allowed_role()` as the required capability — which WordPress resolves as a real capability match for any user holding that role — combined with `generate_section_field()` rendering the master API key from the `instawp_api_options` option directly as the `value` attribute of a plain-text HTML input with no additional `manage_options` or equivalent capability check. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access and above to read the plaintext master API key, use its SHA-256-derived secret as a bearer token accepted by the plugin's REST API `validate_api_request()`, and call `POST /wp-json/instawp-connect/v2/auto-login` to mint a 30-second single-use login URL that sets an administrator authentication cookie — fully escalating their privileges. Exploitation requires the site to be actively connected to InstaWP and an administrator to have added the attacker's role to the plugin's Sync Tab Access list (`instawp_sync_tab_roles`); notably, the settings tab suppression logic only hides the tab when `administrator` is absent from the list entirely, meaning a mixed configuration retaining administrator alongside a lower role still serves the full settings page — including the API key — to the lower-privileged user.
A privilege escalation vulnerability has been identified in the InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions through 0.1.4.1. The vulnerability arises because the plugin registers its admin page using a role name as the required capability, which WordPress interprets as a real capability match for any user with that role. This, combined with the plugin rendering the master API key as a plain-text HTML input without proper capability checks, allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access and above to read the API key. Attackers can then use the API key's SHA-256-derived secret as a bearer token in the plugin's REST API to generate a single-use login URL that grants administrator privileges.
Users are advised to update the InstaWP Connect plugin to version 0.1.4.2 or a newer patched version.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
Volerion
Assessed Oct 16, 2026CISA-ADP
Assessed Oct 16, 2026References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-269 | Improper Privilege Management | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| InstaWP Connect | <= 0.1.4.1 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
2 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | CVE Modified | CISA-ADP |
| Oct 16, 2026 | New CVE Received | [email protected] |
Volerion