CVE-2020-36157Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated privilege escalation via unfiltered registration role

Published Jan 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Privilege escalation in Ultimate Member before 2.1.12 allows remote attackers to obtain elevated WordPress privileges via registration. The user-update path accepts an unfiltered role parameter and excludes only default WordPress roles, allowing assignment of a supplied custom role or capability. Exploitation requires a reachable registration form and a suitable custom role or capability; the resulting privileges enable administrator access and site takeover.

CVSS severity10.0
Critical
EPSS probability2.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Ultimate Member before 2.1.12 allows remote attackers to obtain elevated WordPress privileges via registration. The user-update path accepts an unfiltered role parameter and excludes only default WordPress roles, allowing assignment of a supplied custom role or capability. Exploitation requires a reachable registration form and a suitable custom role or capability; the resulting privileges enable administrator access and site takeover.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36157
Published
Jan 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1136
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 4, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
10.0MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1136Create Account

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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