Ak Framework <= 2.9.8 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Missing Authorization to Arbitrary Options Update
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 2.9.9
- Affected Plugin
- Ak Framework
- Affected Version
<= 2.9.8- CVSS
- 8.8High
- Weakness type
- CWE-269 · Improper Privilege Management
- CVE
CVE-2026-105894
At a glance
CVE-2026-105894 is a high-severity Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in the Ak Framework WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 2.9.8. It carries a CVSS score of 8.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Subscriber level or above. The issue is fixed in version 2.9.9; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed October 2026, reported by lhking.
Vulnerability Overview
The Ak Framework plugin for WordPress, included in the Newsy - Viral News & Magazine WordPress Theme, is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 2.9.8. This is due to missing capability checks in the ajax_refresh_nonce and ak_admin_ajax handlers before passing attacker-controlled option names and values to update_option(). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update arbitrary WordPress options including users_can_register and default_role to escalate privileges to administrator by enabling user registration with administrator as the default role.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.
CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management
Ak Framework <= 2.9.8 carries this weakness at update_option(), and reaching it takes an account at Subscriber level or above. Improper privilege management means the code lets an account end up with capabilities its role should not have.
It converts a low-privileged account into an administrative one, which makes every other restriction on the site irrelevant. For Ak Framework the fix is 2.9.9: builds <= 2.9.8 are affected, anything from 2.9.9 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 2.9.9, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
Because it turns on account access, WordSec's login security is the relevant layer: role-based two-factor, captcha and brute-force limits raise the cost of getting the account this needs. None of that substitutes for the fix: Ak Framework 2.9.9 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Vulnerability data © Defiant, Inc., provided under the Wordfence Intelligence T&C