Automation Web Platform – Notifications and…: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-14281 is a critical-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code from 101gen, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code versions: 4.8.6 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.92% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 61% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101gen | Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code | 4.8.6 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (wordfence.com).
Official description
The Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.8.6. This is due to missing permission enforcement on the publicly accessible REST route `POST /wp-json/wawp/v1/signup/<op>` and the absence of a key allowlist in the `finish_registration_logic` function, which copies the attacker-controlled `wawp_custom_fields` parameter directly into `update_user_meta()` — allowing sensitive meta keys such as `wp_capabilities` and `wp_user_level` to be set by the caller. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to register a new account with the administrator role and gain full administrative access to the site. When OTP verification is enabled at signup, the OTP session token (`otp_transient`) is returned in plaintext in the HTTP response body, and the `handle_magic_link_request()` handler marks that token as verified on any unauthenticated GET request containing it without ever checking the OTP code value — making the OTP step trivially bypassable with no inbox or SMS access required.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
References
Other references
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-a…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-a…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-s…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-s…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signu…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/tags/4.8.6/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signu…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.ph…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/api/class-wawp-rest-settings-api.ph…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-servic…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-otp-servic…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/automation-web-platform/trunk/includes/auth-services/class-wawp-signup.php…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3679350%40automation-web-platform&new=3679350%40automation…
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f17d3e43-29c6-4c80-912d-53ceda3fcb5d?source=cve
Other vulnerabilities in Automation Web Platform – Notifications and OTP for WooCommerce, Advanced Country Code
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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