SMS Alert: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-15206 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in SMS Alert, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 3.9.8 as the first without the flaw, so updating SMS Alert to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.41% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update SMS Alert to 3.9.8 or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
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
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
The SMS Alert WordPress plugin before 3.9.8 does not bind its "mobile verified" session flag to the phone number that was actually verified: after an attacker verifies an OTP sent to their own phone, the signup/login handler reads a fresh, attacker-supplied phone number to select the account and logs them in. An unauthenticated attacker can therefore log in as any user, including an administrator, who has a billing phone on file.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in SMS Alert
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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