🛡️ CVE-2026-16774
Description
The Chatbot plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Missing Authorization in versions up to, and including, 8.5.9 via the wpcs_send_email() AJAX handler. This is due to the wpcs_send_email() function being registered on both wp_ajax_wpcs_send_email and wp_ajax_nopriv_wpcs_send_email with no nonce verification, capability check, or rate limiting, while forwarding attacker-controlled recipient, subject, and body directly to wp_mail(). This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to send arbitrary emails to any recipient from the site's domain, enabling spam, phishing, and abuse that can lead to the site's IP/domain being blacklisted.
How this vulnerability can be exploited
This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity low, availability none.
Weakness class
CVE-2026-16774 is classified as CWE-862: Missing Authorization. No authorisation check is performed before carrying out a restricted action.
Affected software
CVE-2026-16774 is recorded against 1 package.
- unknown
Timeline and source
Published on 28 July 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from NVD.
References
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
plugins.trac.wordpress.org
www.wordfence.com
Details
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Affected Packages
| Software | From version | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| unknown | — | — |
References
Similar Threats
- Unknown CVE-2022-0003
- Unknown CVE-2022-0303
- High CVE-2022-1206
- Unknown CVE-2022-0931
- Unknown CVE-2022-0094
More CVE 2026 advisories
Browse all of CVE 2026 in the advisory index.
Vulnerability Monitoring
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CVE-2026-16774 is rated CVSS 5.3 Medium. BotEraser monitors your WordPress installation and notifies you when software you use appears in our vulnerability database.
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