Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a high-severity WordPress plugin issue in NextGEN Gallery. A logged-in user with Author-level privileges or higher could make the plugin include server-side PHP files through gallery template handling. In some site configurations, that can expose data or lead to code execution. It is not documented here as actively exploited.
Executive priority
Treat this as a priority patch-and-access-review item for WordPress properties using NextGEN Gallery. It is high impact but not unauthenticated, so urgency is greatest where many users have Author-level access or where content accounts are shared, external, or weakly controlled.
Technical view
CVE-2026-1463 is a local file inclusion issue, CWE-98, in the NextGEN Gallery WordPress plugin’s gallery shortcode template handling. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8. Sources describe attacker requirements as authenticated Author+ access, with impact escalating when PHP files can be uploaded and included.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to WordPress sites using NextGEN Gallery and allowing Author-level or higher accounts, especially where those accounts are numerous, delegated, or less trusted. The public data has a version inconsistency: the title says <=4.0.4, while the description says <=4.0.3.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires authenticated Author-level access or higher. The most serious outcome depends on whether an attacker can place or reference PHP files that the server will execute.
Researcher notes
The public record has incomplete and conflicting version detail: title says <=4.0.4, description says up to 4.0.3. The referenced WordPress Trac changeset appears relevant to template locator changes, but the source bundle does not state a fixed release. Avoid assuming a fix version without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites using the NextGEN Gallery plugin.
- Check vendor and Wordfence guidance for the confirmed fixed version.
- Update the plugin when a fixed vendor release is available.
- Restrict Author-level access to trusted users only.
- Review whether site policy permits PHP uploads or executable upload paths.
- Monitor plugin changelogs for clarification on affected versions.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed NextGEN Gallery versions across WordPress sites.
- Compare versions against CVE, Wordfence, and vendor release guidance.
- Review users with Author, Editor, or Administrator roles.
- Review recent gallery shortcode edits by privileged content users.
- Check for unusual template parameter usage in gallery content.
- Review web and application logs for suspicious authenticated content changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-98: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-1463 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2d7bc556-cdaf-42a7-8801-ad2e4945a137?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/nextgen-gallery/tags/4.0.3/src/DisplayType/LegacyTemplateLocator.php#L140CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/nextgen-gallery/tags/4.0.3/src/DisplayType/Controller.php#L369CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3460327/nextgen-gallery/trunk/src/DisplayType/LegacyTemplateLocator.php?old=3423202&old_path=nextgen-gallery%2Ftrunk%2Fsrc%2FDisplayType%2FLegacyTemplateLocator.phpCVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion')
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.