CVE-2022-0992Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated administrator access via hijacked 2FA enrollment

Published Apr 19, 2022 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Authentication bypass in SiteGround Security Optimizer 1.2.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to gain WordPress administrator access. The validate_2fa_login() function accepts a user-controlled sg-user-id, exposes the unconfigured account's QR secret, and calls wp_set_auth_cookie() for that ID without verifying the first authentication factor. Exploitation requires 2FA to be enabled and an administrator or editor account to remain unenrolled, after which the attacker receives that account's authenticated session.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in SiteGround Security Optimizer 1.2.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to gain WordPress administrator access. The validate_2fa_login() function accepts a user-controlled sg-user-id, exposes the unconfigured account's QR secret, and calls wp_set_auth_cookie() for that ID without verifying the first authentication factor. Exploitation requires 2FA to be enabled and an administrator or editor account to remain unenrolled, after which the attacker receives that account's authenticated session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0992
Published
Apr 19, 2022
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
SiteGround
Product
Security Optimizer
Classifications
CWE-288, CWE-306, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=1.2.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SiteGround · Security Optimizerversion=0 <=1.2.5

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-288Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
T1078Valid Accounts

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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