CVE-2026-8616: Auth Bypass (CVSS 5.3)

Description

The Fense Proxy & VPN Blocker plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check and missing nonce validation on the fense_bpvt_save_settings() function in versions up to, and including, 3.0.1. The callback is registered to both wp_ajax_* and wp_ajax_nopriv_* hooks and unconditionally calls delete_option() on four plugin options and delete_transient() on three transients tied to the plugin's API key cache and settings. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete plugin options and transients, effectively resetting the plugin's API key/data cache and forcing the plugin to refetch state.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

5.3

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0023

Probability of exploitation

0.14%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-862 Missing Authorization

References

Other References

https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fense-block-vpn-proxy/tags/2.9.0/includes/system/fense-bpvt-header-code.php#L32 https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fense-block-vpn-proxy/tags/2.9.0/includes/system/fense-bpvt-header-code.php#L48 https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/fense-block-vpn-proxy/tags/3.0.2/includes/system/header-code.php?rev=3574545 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/1208ac78-4a56-4daa-b935-d579f07f8e8e?source=cve

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-8616? +

The Fense Proxy & VPN Blocker plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check and missing nonce validation on the fense_bpvt_save_settings() function in versions up to, and including, 3.0.1. The callback is registered to both wp_ajax_* and wp_ajax_nopriv_* hooks and unconditionally calls delete_option() on four plugin options and delete_transient() on three transients tied to the plugin's API key cache and settings. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete plugin options and transients, effectively resetting the plugin's API key/data cache and forcing the plugin to refetch state. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2026-8616? +

CVE-2026-8616 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.3 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance. The EPSS score is 0.0023, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-8616? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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