CVE-2026-22430 is an authorization bypass vulnerability found in Mikado-Themes Verdure, a WordPress theme product, affecting versions up to and including 1.6. The vulnerability stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels that allow an attacker to manipulate user-controlled keys to bypass authorization checks. This means that an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) can escalate their access rights without requiring user interaction (UI:N) or physical access to the system. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), indicating that exploitation can occur remotely over the internet. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent (C:L/I:L/A:N), allowing unauthorized access to data or modification of certain resources but not causing denial of service. The flaw is due to improper validation or enforcement of access control policies within the theme's code, potentially allowing attackers to access or modify content or settings they should not have permission to. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the medium CVSS score of 5.4 reflects moderate risk, especially in environments where the theme is actively used and user privileges are not tightly controlled. Since the vulnerability affects a widely used WordPress theme, it poses a risk to websites relying on Verdure for their front-end presentation and content management. The absence of a patch link suggests that a fix may still be pending or not widely distributed at the time of publication.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or modification of website content or configuration, potentially undermining the integrity and confidentiality of web assets. Organizations using Mikado-Themes Verdure in their WordPress environments may face risks of privilege escalation attacks that could facilitate further compromise, such as data leakage or unauthorized content changes. Although the vulnerability does not directly impact availability, the integrity and confidentiality breaches could damage organizational reputation, lead to data compliance issues under GDPR, and expose sensitive customer or business information. The risk is heightened for organizations with multi-user WordPress setups where users have varying privilege levels, as attackers could exploit this flaw to elevate privileges. Sectors with high reliance on web presence, such as e-commerce, media, and public services, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks once exploit code becomes available.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the use of Mikado-Themes Verdure, especially versions up to 1.6. Until a patch is released, restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary, avoiding granting elevated rights to untrusted users. Implement strict access control policies and review theme configuration settings to ensure no user-controlled keys or parameters can influence authorization decisions. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual access patterns or privilege escalation attempts. Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the theme's authorization mechanisms. Stay updated with Mikado-Themes vendor announcements and apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, conduct penetration testing focused on authorization controls within the WordPress environment to identify and remediate similar weaknesses.