CVE-2026-8499
Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews <= 1.2.9 - Inccorect Authorization via Type Juggling in 'token' Parameter to Arbitrary Settings Update
Description
The Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authorization Bypass via PHP Type Juggling in versions up to, and including, 1.2.9. This is due to the `helpfulcrowd_validate_token()` function using a loose comparison operator (`!=`) instead of a strict comparison (`!==`) when validating the `token` parameter, while the corresponding REST route `/wp-json/helpfulcrowd/v1/update-settings` is registered with a `permission_callback` of `__return_true`, making it reachable by unauthenticated users; submitting a JSON boolean `true` as the `token` value causes PHP's loose comparison to evaluate as equal to the non-empty base64-encoded secret string, bypassing the check entirely. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to invoke `helpfulcrowd_settings_endpoint()` and write arbitrary attacker-controlled key-value pairs directly into the `helpfulcrowd_options` WordPress database option via `update_option()` without any sanitization or allowlist filtering, enabling full unauthenticated modification of the plugin's stored configuration.
INFO
Published Date :
June 9, 2026, 5:16 a.m.
Last Modified :
July 23, 2026, 8:10 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-8499
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
No affected product recoded yet
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update the Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews plugin.
- Ensure strict comparison is used for token validation.
- Restrict access to the REST API endpoint.
- Sanitize all user inputs.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-8499.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-8499 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-8499
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-8499 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-8499 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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CVE Translated by [email protected]
Jul. 23, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Translation Title: plugin de WordPress Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews, Description: El plugin Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews para WordPress es vulnerable a un bypass de autorización a través de PHP Type Juggling en versiones hasta la 1.2.9, inclusive. Esto se debe a que la función 'helpfulcrowd_validate_token()' utiliza un operador de comparación flexible ('!=') en lugar de una comparación estricta ('!==') al validar el parámetro 'token', mientras que la ruta REST correspondiente '/wp-json/helpfulcrowd/v1/update-settings' está registrada con un 'permission_callback' de '__return_true', haciéndola accesible para usuarios no autenticados; enviar un booleano JSON 'true' como valor del 'token' hace que la comparación flexible de PHP se evalúe como igual a la cadena secreta no vacía codificada en base64, omitiendo la verificación por completo. Esto hace posible que atacantes no autenticados invoquen 'helpfulcrowd_settings_endpoint()' y escriban pares clave-valor arbitrarios controlados por el atacante directamente en la opción de la base de datos de WordPress 'helpfulcrowd_options' a través de 'update_option()' sin ninguna sanitización o filtrado por lista blanca, lo que permite la modificación completa no autenticada de la configuración almacenada del plugin. -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jun. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'helpfulcrowd', 'product': 'Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '0', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '1.2.9'}], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}] -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jun. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-8499', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'yes'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-06-09T16:01:47.825981Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jun. 09, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description The Helpfulcrowd Product Reviews plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authorization Bypass via PHP Type Juggling in versions up to, and including, 1.2.9. This is due to the `helpfulcrowd_validate_token()` function using a loose comparison operator (`!=`) instead of a strict comparison (`!==`) when validating the `token` parameter, while the corresponding REST route `/wp-json/helpfulcrowd/v1/update-settings` is registered with a `permission_callback` of `__return_true`, making it reachable by unauthenticated users; submitting a JSON boolean `true` as the `token` value causes PHP's loose comparison to evaluate as equal to the non-empty base64-encoded secret string, bypassing the check entirely. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to invoke `helpfulcrowd_settings_endpoint()` and write arbitrary attacker-controlled key-value pairs directly into the `helpfulcrowd_options` WordPress database option via `update_option()` without any sanitization or allowlist filtering, enabling full unauthenticated modification of the plugin's stored configuration. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N Added CWE CWE-843 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/helpfulcrowd-product-reviews/tags/1.2.9/includes/core.php#L122 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/helpfulcrowd-product-reviews/tags/1.2.9/includes/HelpfulcrowdCustomEndpoints.php#L13 Added Reference https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/helpfulcrowd-product-reviews/tags/1.2.9/includes/HelpfulcrowdCustomEndpoints.php#L71 Added Reference https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/26f34aa0-8584-4156-b084-d34a0ab0a997?source=cve