Plugin Name	Orderable
Type of Vulnerability	Access Control Vulnerability
CVE Number	CVE-2026-0974
Urgency	High
CVE Publish Date	2026-02-19
Source URL	CVE-2026-0974

Critical Access Control Flaw in Orderable <= 1.20.0 (CVE-2026-0974) — Immediate Guidance for WordPress Site Administrators

Author: Managed-WP Security Team
Date: 2026-02-19

Summary
A critical broken access control vulnerability (CVE-2026-0974) with a CVSS score of 8.8 affects versions up to 1.20.0 of the Orderable WordPress plugin. This flaw permits an authenticated user with Subscriber-level access to invoke plugin installation operations without proper authorization checks. Exploiting this, attackers can install arbitrary plugins—including malicious backdoors and privilege escalation tools—posing a substantial threat to site integrity and security. Site owners using Orderable must treat this as an urgent security priority.

Contents

• Introduction
• Risk Assessment
• Technical Breakdown
• Attack Scenarios & Impact
• Detecting Exploitation
• Urgent Mitigation Actions
• Long-Term Security Measures
• Role of WAF and Virtual Patching
• Operational Security Best Practices
• FAQ
• Managed-WP Free Security Plan Overview
• Closing Remarks from Managed-WP

---

Introduction

On February 19, 2026, a severe broken access control vulnerability was disclosed in the Orderable WordPress plugin (versions 1.20.0 and below). This vulnerability allows any authenticated user with the Subscriber role to trigger functionality reserved for site administrators—specifically, arbitrary plugin installation. Because installing plugins can lead to backdoors, unauthorized admin accounts, and malware deployment, the security implications are critical.

Managed WordPress operators, agencies, and individual site owners running Orderable must consider this a high-severity threat and take immediate protective steps outlined below.

---

Risk Assessment

Broken access control issues are among the most dangerous vulnerabilities found in web applications. In this scenario, inadequate authorization checks enable:

• Privilege Escalation: Attackers can gain site admin powers indirectly by installing malicious plugins.
• Persistent Backdoors: Malicious plugins ensure ongoing access even if user accounts are deleted.
• Data Breach & Site Takeover: Compromised plugins can steal sensitive data, manipulate content, or disrupt website functionality.
• Multi-stage Attacks: Installed malware can introduce further vulnerabilities or compromise other components.

Since the attack only requires Subscriber-level access—a role commonly enabled for customers and public user registrations—the potential attack vector is broad. The vulnerability’s CVSS 8.8 rating reflects its high impact and trivial access requirements.

---

Technical Breakdown

The core issue lies in Orderable’s failure to enforce proper authorization checks around plugin installation functionality. Secure WordPress development mandates:

1. Verification of user capabilities (e.g., install_plugins, manage_options).
2. Nonce or anti-CSRF token validation.
3. Contextual restrictions and input sanitization.

In this case, Subscriber users can trigger plugin install actions—via admin, AJAX, or REST endpoints—without those safeguards. The result is unauthorized code deployment capability equivalent to an unapproved “code push”.

At time of publishing, no official vendor patch addresses all affected Orderable versions, underscoring the urgency of mitigation.

---

Attack Scenarios & Impact

An attacker might exploit this vulnerability in these ways:

1. Misuse of Public Registrations: Registering new Subscriber accounts to deploy backdoor plugins enabling persistent malicious access.
2. Credential Compromise: Using leaked or phished Subscriber credentials to elevate privileges.
3. Malicious Contributors: On content-heavy sites, Subscriber-equivalent roles could install plugins that manipulate or inject unwanted content.
4. WordPress Multisite Threat: Network-wide Subscriber accounts may allow widespread compromise across subsites.

Post-exploitation, common attacker actions include:

• Installing backdoor plugins or creating new admin accounts to maintain control.
• Injecting malware, phishing tools, or spam modules.
• Disabling security or logging plugins to evade detection.
• Scheduling persistent malicious tasks (wp_cron) for continued access.

---

Detecting Exploitation

Presence of Subscriber users and Orderable plugin version ≤1.20.0 means exploitation is possible. Detection requires careful auditing, including:

• Look for unexpected or recently created plugin directories in wp-content/plugins.
• Run wp plugin list or use WP admin interface to detect unauthorized plugins.
• Scan theme and core files for obfuscated or suspicious code patterns (base64_decode(), eval(), gzinflate(), etc.).
• Audit wp_users and wp_usermeta tables for new or elevated admin accounts.
• Review scheduled cron jobs for unfamiliar callbacks or executions.
• Analyze web server logs for POST requests targeting plugin installation pages from Subscriber roles.
• Use reputable malware scanners to detect anomalies or malicious code.

If evidence of compromise exists, immediately:

• Put the site into maintenance mode or take it offline.
• Backup site files and logs for forensic analysis.
• Reset all administrative and privileged account credentials.
• Restore clean backups where available.
• Engage experienced WordPress security professionals for remediation assistance.

---

Urgent Mitigation Actions

If no patch is available, apply these containment strategies:

1. Restrict Plugin Installation Capabilities

Create a Must-Use Plugin to block plugin install actions for all but administrators:

<?php
// wp-content/mu-plugins/disable-plugin-install-for-non-admins.php
add_action( 'init', function() {
    if ( is_admin() && ! current_user_can( 'administrator' ) ) {
        $screen = get_current_screen();
        if ( $screen && in_array( $screen->base, ['plugin-install', 'plugins', 'update'] ) ) {
            wp_die( 'Access denied.' );
        }
    }
}, 1 );

Alternatively, explicitly remove the install_plugins capability from Subscriber role users:

<?php
add_action( 'init', function() {
    $role = get_role( 'subscriber' );
    if ( $role && $role->has_cap( 'install_plugins' ) ) {
        $role->remove_cap( 'install_plugins' );
    }
}, 20 );

2. Apply Web Server Access Restrictions

• Configure Apache (.htaccess) or Nginx rules to restrict access to plugin-installation endpoints (plugin-install.php, update-core.php, plugin-editor.php) to trusted IPs or admin users only.

Example Nginx snippet:

location ~* /wp-admin/plugin-install.php {
    allow 203.0.113.0/24;   # Trusted admin IPs
    deny all;
}

3. Disable File Modifications via wp-config.php

Add this line to disallow file changes, plugin/theme installations, or updates through the admin interface:

define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true );

Note: This also disables automatic updates, so plan accordingly.

4. Harden File System Permissions

• Restrict webserver write permissions on wp-content/plugins to only trusted admin processes.
• Set ownership and permissions to prevent unauthorized plugin file writes.

5. Temporarily Disable User Registrations

If your site allows public registrations and they are not urgently needed, disable signups until the risk is addressed.

6. Implement Monitoring for Suspicious Activity

• Enable file integrity monitoring for plugins directory changes.
• Track new user roles and admin account creations.

7. Consider Maintenance Mode if Active Exploitation is Suspected

This helps contain damage while investigations and remediation proceed.

---

Long-Term Security Measures

1. Apply Official Vendor Updates when available—test in staging before production rollout.
2. Enforce Least Privilege Principles: Audit and minimize permissions for all user roles.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on all privileged accounts for added protection.
4. Remove Unused Plugins and Themes to reduce attack surfaces.
5. Secure REST API and Admin Endpoints with proper permission checks and nonce validation.
6. Implement Strong Password Policies and session controls to deter brute force and reuse attacks.
7. Conduct Regular Security Audits focusing on code, plugins, and access controls.
8. Maintain Reliable Backups and regularly test restore procedures.
9. Establish Plugin Installation Allowlists in multi-site or agency environments.

---

Role of WAF and Virtual Patching

While awaiting or complementing official patches, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) like Managed-WP’s can provide rapid virtual patching by intercepting and blocking exploit attempts.

Recommended protective WAF measures include:

• Blocking plugin-installation-related POST/GET requests from non-admin IPs or users.
• Strict rate limiting of requests targeting plugin upload/install endpoints.
• Detection and intervention when Subscriber-level actions attempt admin operations.
• Blocking suspicious payloads including zip uploads or known exploit signatures.
• Fleet-wide protections that cover all managed WordPress sites.
• Logging activity for forensic analysis and alerting.

Managed-WP provides tailored virtual patching rules optimized for WordPress internals, rapidly reducing attack surface across your sites.

---

Operational Security Best Practices

Logging and Monitoring

• Enable detailed logs on WordPress and your web server.
• Aggregate logs centrally with alerting on key indicators:
  • New or altered plugin folders
  • POST requests to plugin installation endpoints
  • Role changes and new admin user creations
• Set up file integrity monitors with automated notifications.

Incident Response Preparedness

• Maintain an incident response plan detailing:
  • Key contacts (sysadmins, developers, hosting providers)
  • Steps for isolation and containment
  • Backup and snapshot processes
  • Recovery and verification procedures

Clear Communication

Inform stakeholders promptly in case of confirmed breaches, documenting all response actions.

Forensic Investigation Essentials

• Preserve logs (web server, WordPress, databases).
• Capture filesystem snapshots.
• Identify all unauthorized plugin additions and suspicious files.
• Search for and remove backdoors and persistence mechanisms.
• Rotate all relevant secrets and API keys.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I disable user registrations?
A: Not always. If your business needs public signups, implement enhanced monitoring, role restrictions, and WAF rules. Otherwise, disable registrations temporarily.

Q: Is removing the Orderable plugin sufficient?
A: Uninstalling the vulnerable plugin prevents further exploits via that vector but does not remove pre-existing backdoors or compromised plugins. Full cleanup and a verified restore may be necessary.

Q: Is using DISALLOW_FILE_MODS safe?
A: Yes, as a provisional containment step. It prevents plugin and theme changes via the admin interface but disables automatic updates.

Q: When should I patch?
A: Immediately upon vendor release and testing in staging environments to ensure stability.

Q: Can a WAF replace patching?
A: No. WAFs offer valuable mitigation but are not substitutes for official fixes. Always patch promptly.

---

Managed-WP Free Security Plan Overview

To support WordPress site owners against vulnerabilities like this, Managed-WP offers a free security plan featuring:

• WordPress-optimized Web Application Firewall (WAF)
• Unlimited WAF bandwidth coverage
• Regular signature and rule set updates
• Malware detection scanning
• Basic mitigation for OWASP Top 10 web risks

Sign up for instant baseline protection: https://managed-wp.com/free-plan

For enhanced security, our paid tiers include automated malware removal, IP allowlists/denylists, detailed reporting, virtual patching, and expert-managed services.

---

Prioritized Checklist to Reduce Risk in Under 90 Minutes

First 10 Minutes

• Verify if Orderable <= 1.20.0 is active using wp plugin list or WP admin panel.
• Disable new user registrations from Settings > General.
• Enable maintenance mode if exploitation is suspected.

Next 30 Minutes

• Add define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); to wp-config.php.
• Deploy a MU plugin to block plugin install access for non-admins.
• Force password resets for all admin users.

Next 90 Minutes

• Audit wp-content/plugins for new/unexpected directories.
• Run trusted malware scans and review reports.
• Implement webserver rules restricting access to plugin-install pages by IP or role.

Within 24 Hours

• Apply Managed-WP WAF virtual patching across your environment.
• Backup full site snapshots for forensic analysis.
• Plan and test staged vendor updates for Orderable.

---

Closing Remarks from Managed-WP

This broken access control flaw (CVE-2026-0974) reminds us that even low-level user roles can cause critical damage without proper authorization enforcement. Immediate containment—limiting plugin installation capabilities, activating virtual patching, and vigilant monitoring—will substantially decrease risk.

Managed WordPress professionals managing multiple sites or agencies should enforce fleet-wide protections and role policies. Single site owners should apply mitigations swiftly and ensure reliable backups and restore capabilities.

If you require comprehensive assistance with detection, remediation, or ongoing protection, Managed-WP offers managed virtual patching, security scanning, incident response, and expert support tailored to the WordPress ecosystem. Begin with our Free Plan for immediate coverage, scaling up as needed: https://managed-wp.com/free-plan

Remain vigilant, act urgently, and secure your WordPress environment.

— The Managed-WP Security Team

---

Take Proactive Action — Secure Your Site with Managed-WP

Don’t risk your business or reputation due to overlooked plugin flaws or weak permissions. Managed-WP provides robust Web Application Firewall (WAF) protection, tailored vulnerability response, and hands-on remediation for WordPress security that goes far beyond standard hosting services.

Exclusive Offer for Blog Readers: Access our MWPv1r1 protection plan — industry-grade security starting from just USD 20/month.

• Automated virtual patching and advanced role-based traffic filtering
• Personalized onboarding and step-by-step site security checklist
• Real-time monitoring, incident alerts, and priority remediation support
• Actionable best-practice guides for secrets management and role hardening

Get Started Easily — Secure Your Site for USD 20/month:
Protect My Site with Managed-WP MWPv1r1 Plan

Why trust Managed-WP?

• Immediate coverage against newly discovered plugin and theme vulnerabilities
• Custom WAF rules and instant virtual patching for high-risk scenarios
• Concierge onboarding, expert remediation, and best-practice advice whenever you need it

Don’t wait for the next security breach. Safeguard your WordPress site and reputation with Managed-WP—the choice for businesses serious about security.

Click here to start your protection today (MWPv1r1 plan, USD 20/month).