CVE-2026-5502

Tutor LMS <= 3.9.8 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary Course Content Manipulation via tutor_update_course_content_order

2026-04-16 15:10
momopon1415

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 3.9.9
Affected Version
<= 3.9.8
CVSS
5.3Medium
Weakness type
CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE
CVE-2026-5502
View all Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2026-5502 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Tutor LMS WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.9.8. It carries a CVSS score of 5.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 3.9.9; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed April 2026, reported by momopon1415.

Vulnerability Overview

The Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized course content manipulation in versions up to and including 3.9.8. This is due to a missing authorization check in the tutor_update_course_content_order() function. The function only validates the nonce (CSRF protection) but does not verify whether the user has permission to manage course content. The can_user_manage() authorization check only executes when the 'content_parent' parameter is present in the request. When this parameter is omitted, the function proceeds directly to save_course_content_order() which manipulates the wp_posts table without any authorization validation. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access and above to detach all lessons from any topic, move lessons between topics, and modify the menu_order of course content, effectively allowing them to disrupt the structure of any course on the site.

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 privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user.

CWE-862: Missing Authorization

Tutor LMS <= 3.9.8 carries this weakness at content_parent, and reaching it takes an account at Subscriber level or above. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.

Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. For Tutor LMS the fix is 3.9.9: builds <= 3.9.8 are affected, anything from 3.9.9 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 3.9.9, 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: Tutor LMS 3.9.9 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

Related records

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