MDJM Event Management <= 1.7.8.4 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Privilege Escalation via 'set-permissions' and 'change_role' Handlers

2026-07-22 20:47
moonge

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 1.7.8.5
Affected PluginMDJM Event Management
Affected Version<= 1.7.8.4
CVSS8.8High
CVECVE-2026-15017
View all MDJM Event Management vulnerabilities

Vulnerability Overview

The MDJM Event Management plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.7.8.4. This is due to missing capability checks and nonce verification in the `MDJM_Permissions::set_permissions()` and `MDJM_Employee_Manager::init()` functions, combined with the absence of server-side allow-list validation on the `employee_roles[]` and `new_role` POST parameters before they are passed to `mdjm_set_employee_role()` and `WP_User::set_role()`. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to grant arbitrary MDJM capabilities — including `mdjm_employee` and `mdjm_employee_edit` — to any registered WordPress role, and subsequently leverage a subscriber-level account to escalate privileges to Administrator. `MDJM_Permissions::init()` is registered on the public WordPress `init` hook without any authentication gate, meaning the role-manipulation endpoint is reachable without any prior login.

Technical Analysis

REMEDIATION: Update to version 1.7.8.5, or a newer patched version --- IDENTIFIER: CWE-269 (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.

External References

Vulnerability data © Defiant, Inc., provided under the Wordfence Intelligence T&C

MDJM Event Management <= 1.7.8.4 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Privilege Escalation via 'set-permissions' and 'change_role' Handlers (CVE-2026-15017)