How severe is CVE-2026-4261?

CVE-2026-4261 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2026-4261 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (17th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2026-4261?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

Does CVE-2026-4261 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2026-4261 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-14159.

When was CVE-2026-4261 published?

CVE-2026-4261 was published on 2026-03-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2026-4261

CVE-2026-4261 is a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-862.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (17th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-14159
Weakness: CWE-862
Published: 2026-03-21
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The Expire Users plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.2. This is due to the plugin allowing a user to update the 'on_expire_default_to_role' meta through the 'save_extra_user_profile_fields' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to elevate their privileges to that of an administrator.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-4261?: The Expire Users plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.2. This is due to the plugin allowing a user to update the 'on_expire_default_to_role' meta through the 'save_extra_user_profile_fields' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to elevate their privileges to that of an administrator.
How severe is CVE-2026-4261?: CVE-2026-4261 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-4261 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (17th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2026-4261?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2026-4261 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2026-4261 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-14159.
When was CVE-2026-4261 published?: CVE-2026-4261 was published on 2026-03-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

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