CVE-2026-12949: Wishlist Member X <= 3.34.1 - Unauthenticated Account Takeover via 'mergewith' Parameter
The Wishlist Member plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Account Takeover via Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity in versions up to and including 3.34.1. This is due to the wpmregister() function validating the registration cookie only against the GET reg parameter while accepting the POST mergewith and POST wpmid parameters without verifying that the mergewith user ID references a temporary or incomplete registrant that is bound to the current registration transaction. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to take over any existing WordPress account — including administrator accounts — by supplying an arbitrary user's numeric ID as the mergewith value, which causes wpupdateuser() to overwrite the target account's username (additionally written via a direct $wpdb UPDATE), password, email address, first name, and last name with attacker-controlled values, while WordPress password and email change notification emails are explicitly suppressed. When wpmid references a non-existent membership level, no role key is added to the update payload, causing wpupdateuser() to preserve the target user's existing role — including administrator — making full privilege escalation a direct consequence of the takeover.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
WordPress Wishlist Member pluginto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 3.34.1Patch Wishlist Member X <= 3.34.1 - Unauthenticated Account Takeover via 'mergewith' Parameter - Compensating control
If upgrading is not immediately possible, add compensating controls to reduce account takeover impact by blocking unauthenticated access to any endpoints that accept the registration cookie/parameters (reg, mergewith, wpm_id) used by the wpm_register() flow, using network/WAF/ACL rules.
- Operational
After remediation, review WordPress user accounts for unexpected changes to username, password, email, and profile fields, and reset/rotate credentials for any accounts that may have been altered.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-12949?
The severity of CVE-2026-12949 is critical with a score of 9.8.
What does CVE-2026-12949 affect?
CVE-2026-12949 affects versions of the Wishlist Member plugin for WordPress up to and including 3.34.1.
How can an attacker exploit CVE-2026-12949?
An attacker can exploit CVE-2026-12949 to perform an unauthenticated account takeover via the 'mergewith' parameter.
How do I fix CVE-2026-12949?
To fix CVE-2026-12949, update the Wishlist Member plugin to a version later than 3.34.1.
What is the impact of CVE-2026-12949 on WordPress sites?
The impact of CVE-2026-12949 on WordPress sites includes the potential for unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive information.