CVE-2026-1291: CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in tigroumeow Meow Gallery
The Meow Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the REST API endpoint /wp-json/meow-gallery/v1/save_shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 5.4.4 This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to arbitrarily create or overwrite existing gallery shortcode records by supplying a user-controlled id value. The endpoint performs database update operations without verifying that the requesting user is authorized to modify the referenced gallery record or create their own.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-1291 is an authorization bypass vulnerability (CWE-639) in the Meow Gallery WordPress plugin affecting all versions up to and including 5.4.4. The vulnerability exists in the REST API endpoint /wp-json/meow-gallery/v1/save_shortcode, which lacks capability checks to verify user authorization. Authenticated users with Author-level access or above can supply a user-controlled id to arbitrarily create or overwrite existing gallery shortcode records. The endpoint performs database update operations without confirming the user's permission to modify the targeted gallery record or create new ones.
Potential Impact
An attacker with Author-level or higher privileges can modify or create gallery shortcode records arbitrarily, potentially leading to unauthorized content changes within the Meow Gallery plugin data. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability but impacts data integrity by allowing unauthorized modifications.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is currently confirmed. Users should monitor the vendor advisory for updates and apply any official fixes once available. Until then, restrict Author-level access to trusted users only and consider disabling or restricting access to the vulnerable REST API endpoint if possible.
CVE-2026-1291: CWE-639 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in tigroumeow Meow Gallery
Description
The Meow Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the REST API endpoint /wp-json/meow-gallery/v1/save_shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 5.4.4 This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to arbitrarily create or overwrite existing gallery shortcode records by supplying a user-controlled id value. The endpoint performs database update operations without verifying that the requesting user is authorized to modify the referenced gallery record or create their own.
CVSS v3.1
Score 4.3medium
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-1291 is an authorization bypass vulnerability (CWE-639) in the Meow Gallery WordPress plugin affecting all versions up to and including 5.4.4. The vulnerability exists in the REST API endpoint /wp-json/meow-gallery/v1/save_shortcode, which lacks capability checks to verify user authorization. Authenticated users with Author-level access or above can supply a user-controlled id to arbitrarily create or overwrite existing gallery shortcode records. The endpoint performs database update operations without confirming the user's permission to modify the targeted gallery record or create new ones.
Potential Impact
An attacker with Author-level or higher privileges can modify or create gallery shortcode records arbitrarily, potentially leading to unauthorized content changes within the Meow Gallery plugin data. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability but impacts data integrity by allowing unauthorized modifications.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is currently confirmed. Users should monitor the vendor advisory for updates and apply any official fixes once available. Until then, restrict Author-level access to trusted users only and consider disabling or restricting access to the vulnerable REST API endpoint if possible.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- Wordfence
- Date Reserved
- 2026-01-21T16:18:13.278Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a2d21c9e617e2d834ac3306
Added to database: 6/13/2026, 9:24:25 AM
Last enriched: 6/13/2026, 9:39:23 AM
Last updated: 6/13/2026, 10:29:35 AM
Views: 3
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