CVE-2026-14262 HIGH

CVE-2026-14262: Simple JWT Login <= 3.6.6 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Authentication Bypass to Privilege Escalation via 'payload' Parameter

Vendor Nicu_M
Product Simple JWT Login – Allows you to use JWT on REST endpoints.
Weakness CWE-269
Published July 11, 2026
Last update July 13, 2026

CVSS base score

8.8/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

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

What the vulnerability does

01Description

The Simple JWT Login – Allows you to use JWT on REST endpoints. plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 3.6.6 via the `payload` parameter. The vulnerability exists because `AuthenticateService::generatePayload()` only overwrites JWT payload keys whose names appear in the admin-configured `jwt_payload` list — leaving any attacker-supplied identity claims such as `email`, `id`, or `username` intact and signed into the JWT with the site's HS256 secret. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to escalate their privileges to that of an Administrator by injecting a target administrator's email address into the `payload` parameter at the `/wp-json/simple-jwt-login/v1/auth` endpoint, then redeeming the resulting JWT at the `/autologin` endpoint to obtain a fully authenticated session as that administrator.

Explanation of Vulnerability in Simple Terms

02Summary

Simple JWT Login versions 3.6.6 and earlier contain a privilege management flaw in their JWT REST endpoint implementation. An attacker with low-level site access can exploit this to gain unauthorized administrative capabilities, read sensitive data, modify site content, or disrupt service availability. The vulnerability requires only network access and valid low-privilege credentials.

What an attacker can do

03Attacker Capabilities

Escalate from low-level user to admin, read sensitive data, modify content, or crash the site.

Potential impact on your site

04Site Impact

Any low-privilege user (subscriber, contributor) can take over the site or access confidential information.

Conditions required to exploit

05Prerequisites

Attacker needs a valid low-privilege user account on the site; no user interaction required.

Key dates

06Disclosure timeline

July 11, 2026 CVE published
July 13, 2026 Record updated

Related vulnerabilities

08Related CVE