CVE-2026-16257Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated content creation via false-secret type juggling

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Authentication bypass in Arvow AI SEO Writer before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary WordPress posts and pages. The /journalistai/v1/webhook REST endpoint compares a request secret with an unset plugin option such that the JSON Boolean false passes the check. The endpoint is exposed after fresh activation until configuration sets the secret, and the same bypass discloses author account and taxonomy information.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.26%
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 Arvow AI SEO Writer before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary WordPress posts and pages. The /journalistai/v1/webhook REST endpoint compares a request secret with an unset plugin option such that the JSON Boolean false passes the check. The endpoint is exposed after fresh activation until configuration sets the secret, and the same bypass discloses author account and taxonomy information.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16257
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
Arvow
Product
Arvow AI SEO Writer
Classifications
CWE-287, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 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 <1.5.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Arvow · Arvow AI SEO Writerversion=0 <1.5.4

Published CVSS scores

8.2WPScanCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N

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-287Improper Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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