CVE-2026-22383 identifies an authorization bypass vulnerability in the Mikado-Themes PawFriends WordPress theme, specifically designed for pet shops and veterinary websites. The vulnerability stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels, where a user-controlled key parameter can be manipulated to bypass authorization checks. This allows unauthenticated remote attackers to perform actions or access functionality that should be restricted, leading to a denial of service condition. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.3 of the PawFriends theme. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H), the attack can be launched over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts availability without affecting confidentiality or integrity. The flaw does not appear to have publicly available patches or known exploits in the wild as of the publication date. The root cause is a failure in enforcing proper access control mechanisms, allowing attackers to leverage a user-controlled key to circumvent authorization logic. This vulnerability could disrupt the normal operation of affected WordPress sites, potentially causing downtime or service unavailability for pet shop and veterinary service providers relying on this theme.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-22383 is on the availability of affected WordPress sites using the PawFriends theme. Attackers can remotely bypass authorization controls without authentication or user interaction, potentially causing denial of service or disruption of critical website functionality. This can lead to downtime, loss of customer trust, and operational interruptions for businesses relying on the theme, particularly pet shops and veterinary clinics. Although confidentiality and integrity are not directly compromised, the unavailability of the website can have significant business consequences, including lost revenue and reputational damage. Organizations with online booking, customer management, or e-commerce features integrated into the theme may experience severe operational impacts. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation and high CVSS score indicate a strong potential for future attacks if unmitigated.

To mitigate CVE-2026-22383, organizations should first check for and apply any patches or updates released by Mikado-Themes addressing this vulnerability. In the absence of official patches, administrators should implement strict access control policies at the web server or application firewall level to restrict access to sensitive theme functionalities. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests containing manipulated user-controlled keys can help prevent exploitation. Conduct thorough code reviews of the theme’s authorization logic to identify and correct improper access control implementations. Additionally, isolating the WordPress environment using containerization or sandboxing can limit the impact of potential attacks. Regularly monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns related to the theme’s key parameters will aid in early detection. Finally, consider temporarily disabling or replacing the vulnerable theme with a secure alternative until a patch is available.