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CVE-2026-18432: Frontend Admin by DynamiApps <= 3.29.9 - Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via 'item_id' Parameter

The Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 3.29.9. The vulnerability exists because `ActionUser::conditions_logic()` gates the `current_user_can('edit_user', $user_id)` authorization check behind an `is_numeric()` test, causing the check to be skipped entirely when `$user_id` is a non-numeric string — a condition that can be induced by passing a crafted value such as `1one` through the unvalidated `item_id` parameter of the unauthenticated `wp_ajax_nopriv_frontend_admin/forms/change_form` AJAX endpoint. This makes it possible for attackers to escalate privileges to administrator by obtaining a server-signed `_acf_objects` payload carrying the non-numeric user ID, which WordPress subsequently coerces to integer 1 (the default administrator), allowing the attacker to overwrite that account's password or email address. Exploitation by unauthenticated users requires a public-facing frontend user form to be configured; in all other cases a subscriber-level account is sufficient.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-18432 could let an attacker take control of a WordPress administrator account on sites using Frontend Admin by DynamiApps through version 3.29.9. Public frontend user forms may expose the flaw without authentication; otherwise, a subscriber account is reportedly required. Successful exploitation could enable full site compromise, data theft, malicious changes, and service disruption.

Executive priority

Treat this as an immediate remediation priority for internet-facing sites using affected versions, especially those publishing frontend user forms or permitting open registration. Site takeover could affect confidentiality, integrity, availability, customer trust, and recovery costs. If remediation cannot be confirmed promptly, isolate the exposure and increase monitoring for administrator-account changes.

Technical view

The plugin conditionally performs its user-edit authorization check only when item_id is numeric. A crafted non-numeric value can bypass that check, while later WordPress processing reportedly converts the value to administrator user ID 1. An attacker may then change that account's password or email. The affected path includes an unauthenticated AJAX endpoint when a public frontend user form exists.

Likely exposure

Exposure applies to WordPress sites running Frontend Admin by DynamiApps version 3.29.9 or earlier. Unauthenticated exposure requires a public-facing frontend user form. Without such a form, the supplied evidence says a subscriber-level account is sufficient. Sites not using the plugin are not affected by this CVE.

Exploitation context

The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8, reflecting remote, low-complexity compromise without user interaction under the public-form condition. The supplied record is not in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation. Practical exposure therefore depends on plugin version, form configuration, and whether untrusted users can obtain subscriber access.

Researcher notes

The supplied code references support an authorization bypass involving numeric validation and later type coercion. However, the bundle does not identify a confirmed fixed version, vendor-prescribed mitigation, public exploit, or observed attacks. Validation should remain non-destructive and focus on version, configuration, authorization paths, and account-change telemetry rather than attempting exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check current vendor and WordPress plugin guidance for a confirmed fixed release.
  • Update only to a release explicitly confirmed to address CVE-2026-18432.
  • Temporarily disable the plugin or affected public user forms if safe updating is unavailable.
  • Restrict subscriber registration and remove unnecessary low-privilege accounts pending remediation.
  • Reset administrator credentials if compromise indicators are discovered.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all sites running Frontend Admin by DynamiApps and record installed versions.
  • Identify public frontend forms capable of creating or editing WordPress users.
  • Confirm whether untrusted users can register for subscriber-level accounts.
  • Review administrator email, password, role, and account changes for unexpected activity.
  • Verify remediation against vendor guidance and confirm affected forms no longer expose the vulnerable behavior.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · medium confidence lookup

CWE-269: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup

Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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.

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description · low confidence lookup

Credential and access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-18432 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
1ADP providers
7Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: yesTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Wordfence

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-18432Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. Source timelineWordfence

    Vendor Notified

  3. Source timelineWordfence

    Disclosed

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
shabtiFrontend Admin by DynamiApps0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-269

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-269 · source CWE mapping

Improper Privilege Management

Improper Privilege Management represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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