CVE-2025-15018Network attack vector

Unauthenticated account takeover via global password filter

Published Jan 7, 2026 · Updated Jan 7, 2026

Privilege escalation in Optional Email 1.3.11 and earlier allows remote attackers to take over any WordPress account via password reset. The plugin applies its random_password filter outside registration, replacing randomness used to generate password-reset keys with a known value. No authentication or user interaction is required; initiating a reset for a chosen account permits replacement of that account's password, including an administrator's.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.34%
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 Optional Email 1.3.11 and earlier allows remote attackers to take over any WordPress account via password reset. The plugin applies its random_password filter outside registration, replacing randomness used to generate password-reset keys with a known value. No authentication or user interaction is required; initiating a reset for a chosen account permits replacement of that account's password, including an administrator's.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-15018
Published
Jan 7, 2026
Updated
Jan 7, 2026
Vendor
Nael Concescu
Product
Optional Email
Classifications
CWE-639, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 7, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 7, 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=* <=1.3.11

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Nael Concescu · Optional Emailversion=* <=1.3.11

Published CVSS scores

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-639Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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