Reset Database <= 1.1.3 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Privilege Escalation to Missing Capability and Nonce Check in process_reset()
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Unpatched
- Affected Plugin
- Reset Database
- Affected Version
<= 1.1.3- CVSS
- 8.8High
- Weakness type
- CWE-269 · Improper Privilege Management
- CVE
CVE-2026-119615
At a glance
CVE-2026-119615 is a high-severity Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in the Reset Database WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 1.1.3. 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. No fixed release has been reported yet; treat installations running this software as exposed. Disclosed November 2026, reported by Robert Huzo (HuzoSecurity).
Vulnerability Overview
The Reset Database plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation in versions up to, and including, 1.1.3. This is due to the process_reset() function being registered on admin_init with no capability check, a computed-but-unused nonce, a gating condition that passes whenever no WordPress administrator literally named 'admin' exists (the default on modern installs), and an identity test that verifies the ATTACKER'S OWN password rather than an administrator's. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to drop every prefixed database table, re-run wp_install() with their own credentials — making the attacker the sole site administrator — authenticate as that administrator via wp_set_auth_cookie(), and delete the uploads directory.
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
Reset Database <= 1.1.3 carries this weakness at admin, 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. No fixed build of this plugin is recorded for Reset Database yet, so installs running <= 1.1.3 stay exposed until the vendor ships one.
Remediation
No known patch available. Please review the vulnerability's details in depth and employ mitigations based on your organization's risk tolerance. It may be best to uninstall the affected software and find a replacement.
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. No patched version is recorded yet, which is the case where a filtering layer matters most, because there is nothing to update to.
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Vulnerability data © Defiant, Inc., provided under the Wordfence Intelligence T&C