CVE-2026-25315Network attack vector

Unauthenticated CAPTCHA bypass via missing authorization check

Published Feb 19, 2026 · Updated Feb 19, 2026

Missing authorization in hCaptcha for WP 4.21.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass CAPTCHA checks on public forms. The published advisory states that an unauthenticated form request reaches CAPTCHA-protected functionality without the required security check, but it does not identify the affected function or request parameter. The bypass applies only to CAPTCHA enforcement on exposed forms and does not grant WordPress authentication or authorization privileges.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in hCaptcha for WP 4.21.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass CAPTCHA checks on public forms. The published advisory states that an unauthenticated form request reaches CAPTCHA-protected functionality without the required security check, but it does not identify the affected function or request parameter. The bypass applies only to CAPTCHA enforcement on exposed forms and does not grant WordPress authentication or authorization privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-25315
Published
Feb 19, 2026
Updated
Feb 19, 2026
Vendor
hCaptcha
Product
hCaptcha for WP
Classifications
CWE-862, CAPEC-180
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a <=<= 4.22.0 changes=[{"at":"4.23.0","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

hCaptcha · hCaptcha for WPversion=n/a <=<= 4.22.0 changes=[{"at":"4.23.0","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

5.3PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-862Missing Authorization
CAPEC-180Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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