CVE-2026-0635 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Responsive Accordion Slider plugin for WordPress, developed by techknowprime. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.2.2 due to the absence of a capability check in the 'resp_accordion_silder_save_images' function. This function is responsible for saving image metadata associated with sliders, including titles, descriptions, alt text, and links. Because the plugin fails to verify whether the user has sufficient privileges before allowing modifications, any authenticated user with at least Contributor-level access can exploit this flaw to alter slider image metadata. This unauthorized modification can be used to manipulate website content, potentially misleading visitors or injecting malicious links. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3, reflecting low attack complexity and no requirement for user interaction, but limited impact confined to integrity without affecting confidentiality or availability. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability was published on January 14, 2026, with the Wordfence team as the assigner. Since WordPress is widely used across Europe, and the plugin is publicly available, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk to websites employing this plugin, especially those allowing Contributor-level access to multiple users.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the integrity of website content managed via WordPress using the Responsive Accordion Slider plugin. Unauthorized modification of slider image metadata can lead to misinformation, defacement, or insertion of malicious links, potentially damaging brand reputation and user trust. While it does not directly expose sensitive data or disrupt service availability, the ability for lower-privileged users to alter visible content can facilitate phishing or social engineering attacks targeting site visitors. Organizations with multi-user WordPress environments, such as media companies, educational institutions, and e-commerce platforms, are at higher risk. The impact is heightened in sectors where website content accuracy is critical, including government portals and financial services. Given the medium CVSS score and absence of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate but could escalate if exploited in targeted campaigns. European organizations relying on this plugin should assess user roles and monitor for unauthorized content changes to mitigate reputational and operational risks.

1. Immediately restrict Contributor-level and higher access to trusted users only, minimizing the number of accounts that can exploit this vulnerability. 2. Monitor WordPress user roles and permissions regularly to ensure no unauthorized privilege escalation or account creation occurs. 3. Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the 'resp_accordion_silder_save_images' function or related plugin endpoints. 4. Conduct regular audits of slider image metadata to detect unauthorized modifications promptly. 5. If possible, temporarily disable or remove the Responsive Accordion Slider plugin until an official patch or update is released by techknowprime. 6. Engage with the plugin vendor or community to obtain or contribute to a security patch addressing the missing authorization check. 7. Educate site administrators and content managers about the risks of granting Contributor-level access and enforce strong authentication mechanisms. 8. Utilize WordPress security plugins that can alert on changes to plugin files or unusual administrative activities. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control tightening, active monitoring, and proactive plugin management tailored to this vulnerability.