CVE-2026-12281 (GCVE-0-2026-12281)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-07-15 06:00 – Updated: 2026-07-15 10:30
VLAI
Title
Shibboleth < 2.5.4 - Unauthenticated Administrator Account Creation via Identity Header Spoofing
Summary
The Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 does not fail closed when its HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key, treating any request that carries identity headers as an authenticated session without verifying them. On a deployment where untrusted client headers reach the application, an unauthenticated attacker can log in with forged identity headers and, when automatic account creation and the default administrator role mapping are enabled, create and sign in as a new administrator. Exploitation requires the non-default HTTP header attribute mode, an empty or absent spoof key, automatic account creation enabled, and a deployment that does not strip untrusted client headers before they reach the application.
Severity
8.1 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
SSVC
Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total
CISA Coordinator (v2.0.3)
CWE
Assigner
References
URL Tags
https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/8474eda4-6385-44… exploitvdb-entrytechnical-description
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
Unknown Shibboleth Affected: 0 , < 2.5.4 (semver)
Create a notification for this product.
Credits
Khaled Alenazi (Nxploited) WPScan
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "cvssV3_1": {
              "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
              "attackVector": "NETWORK",
              "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
              "baseScore": 8.1,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
              "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
              "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
              "scope": "UNCHANGED",
              "userInteraction": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
              "version": "3.1"
            }
          },
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-12281",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-07-15T10:30:20.393062Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "problemTypes": [
          {
            "descriptions": [
              {
                "cweId": "CWE-287",
                "description": "CWE-287 Improper Authentication",
                "lang": "en",
                "type": "CWE"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-07-15T10:30:29.732Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Shibboleth",
          "vendor": "Unknown",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "2.5.4",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "type": "finder",
          "value": "Khaled Alenazi (Nxploited)"
        },
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "type": "coordinator",
          "value": "WPScan"
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 does not fail closed when its HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key, treating any request that carries identity headers as an authenticated session without verifying them. On a deployment where untrusted client headers reach the application, an unauthenticated attacker can log in with forged identity headers and, when automatic account creation and the default administrator role mapping are enabled, create and sign in as a new administrator. Exploitation requires the non-default HTTP header attribute mode, an empty or absent spoof key, automatic account creation enabled, and a deployment that does not strip untrusted client headers before they reach the application."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "description": "CWE-287 Improper Authentication",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-07-15T06:00:02.460Z",
        "orgId": "1bfdd5d7-9bf6-4a53-96ea-42e2716d7a81",
        "shortName": "WPScan"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "exploit",
            "vdb-entry",
            "technical-description"
          ],
          "url": "https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/8474eda4-6385-447a-9139-f57c049d1713/"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "discovery": "EXTERNAL"
      },
      "title": "Shibboleth \u003c 2.5.4 - Unauthenticated Administrator Account Creation via Identity Header Spoofing",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "WPScan CVE Generator"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "1bfdd5d7-9bf6-4a53-96ea-42e2716d7a81",
    "assignerShortName": "WPScan",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-12281",
    "datePublished": "2026-07-15T06:00:02.460Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-06-15T12:45:00.391Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-07-15T10:30:29.732Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-12281",
      "date": "2026-07-16",
      "epss": "0.00231",
      "percentile": "0.13911"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-12281\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"contact@wpscan.com\",\"published\":\"2026-07-15T06:16:43.840\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-07-15T19:50:11.367\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Deferred\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"The Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 does not fail closed when its HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key, treating any request that carries identity headers as an authenticated session without verifying them. On a deployment where untrusted client headers reach the application, an unauthenticated attacker can log in with forged identity headers and, when automatic account creation and the default administrator role mapping are enabled, create and sign in as a new administrator. Exploitation requires the non-default HTTP header attribute mode, an empty or absent spoof key, automatic account creation enabled, and a deployment that does not strip untrusted client headers before they reach the application.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"contact@wpscan.com\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"Unknown\",\"product\":\"Shibboleth\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"0\",\"lessThan\":\"2.5.4\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":8.1,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"HIGH\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":2.2,\"impactScore\":5.9}],\"ssvcV203\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"ssvcData\":{\"timestamp\":\"2026-07-15T10:30:20.393062Z\",\"id\":\"CVE-2026-12281\",\"options\":[{\"exploitation\":\"none\"},{\"automatable\":\"no\"},{\"technicalImpact\":\"total\"}],\"role\":\"CISA Coordinator\",\"version\":\"2.0.3\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-287\"}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/8474eda4-6385-447a-9139-f57c049d1713/\",\"source\":\"contact@wpscan.com\"}]}}",
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": "{\"adp\": [{\"title\": \"CISA ADP Vulnrichment\", \"metrics\": [{\"cvssV3_1\": {\"scope\": \"UNCHANGED\", \"version\": \"3.1\", \"baseScore\": 8.1, \"attackVector\": \"NETWORK\", \"baseSeverity\": \"HIGH\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\", \"integrityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"userInteraction\": \"NONE\", \"attackComplexity\": \"HIGH\", \"availabilityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"privilegesRequired\": \"NONE\", \"confidentialityImpact\": \"HIGH\"}}, {\"other\": {\"type\": \"ssvc\", \"content\": {\"id\": \"CVE-2026-12281\", \"role\": \"CISA Coordinator\", \"options\": [{\"Exploitation\": \"none\"}, {\"Automatable\": \"no\"}, {\"Technical Impact\": \"total\"}], \"version\": \"2.0.3\", \"timestamp\": \"2026-07-15T10:30:20.393062Z\"}}}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-287\", \"description\": \"CWE-287 Improper Authentication\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\", \"shortName\": \"CISA-ADP\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-07-15T10:29:45.831Z\"}}], \"cna\": {\"title\": \"Shibboleth \u003c 2.5.4 - Unauthenticated Administrator Account Creation via Identity Header Spoofing\", \"source\": {\"discovery\": \"EXTERNAL\"}, \"credits\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"finder\", \"value\": \"Khaled Alenazi (Nxploited)\"}, {\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"coordinator\", \"value\": \"WPScan\"}], \"affected\": [{\"vendor\": \"Unknown\", \"product\": \"Shibboleth\", \"versions\": [{\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"0\", \"lessThan\": \"2.5.4\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}], \"defaultStatus\": \"unaffected\"}], \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/8474eda4-6385-447a-9139-f57c049d1713/\", \"tags\": [\"exploit\", \"vdb-entry\", \"technical-description\"]}], \"x_generator\": {\"engine\": \"WPScan CVE Generator\"}, \"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"value\": \"The Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 does not fail closed when its HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key, treating any request that carries identity headers as an authenticated session without verifying them. On a deployment where untrusted client headers reach the application, an unauthenticated attacker can log in with forged identity headers and, when automatic account creation and the default administrator role mapping are enabled, create and sign in as a new administrator. Exploitation requires the non-default HTTP header attribute mode, an empty or absent spoof key, automatic account creation enabled, and a deployment that does not strip untrusted client headers before they reach the application.\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"description\": \"CWE-287 Improper Authentication\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"1bfdd5d7-9bf6-4a53-96ea-42e2716d7a81\", \"shortName\": \"WPScan\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-07-15T06:00:02.460Z\"}}}",
      "cveMetadata": "{\"cveId\": \"CVE-2026-12281\", \"state\": \"PUBLISHED\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-07-15T10:30:29.732Z\", \"dateReserved\": \"2026-06-15T12:45:00.391Z\", \"assignerOrgId\": \"1bfdd5d7-9bf6-4a53-96ea-42e2716d7a81\", \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-15T06:00:02.460Z\", \"assignerShortName\": \"WPScan\"}",
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.