Authenticated privilege escalation via arbitrary site-option updates
Published Feb 19, 2026 · Updated Feb 19, 2026
Missing authorization in BackWPup 5.0.0 through 5.6.2 allows remote authenticated users to gain WordPress administrator access. The save_site_option REST handler accepts arbitrary site-option names and values, while its route relies on a generic permission callback instead of requiring BackWPup management capabilities. An account with BackWPup Helper access can enable registration and set the default role to administrator, then register an administrative account.
Summary
What happened
Missing authorization in BackWPup 5.0.0 through 5.6.2 allows remote authenticated users to gain WordPress administrator access. The save_site_option REST handler accepts arbitrary site-option names and values, while its route relies on a generic permission callback instead of requiring BackWPup management capabilities. An account with BackWPup Helper access can enable registration and set the default role to administrator, then register an administrative account.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-15041
- Published
- Feb 19, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 19, 2026
- Vendor
- WP Media
- Product
- BackWPup
- Classifications
- CWE-862, T1098
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 19, 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.
- Affected versionversion=* <=5.6.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- Atomic Edge CVE-2025-15041 proof of conceptproof of concept · unverified
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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