CVE-2026-24379 is an authorization bypass vulnerability found in the WP Job Portal WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2.4.3. The vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels that allow an attacker to manipulate a user-controlled key parameter to bypass authorization checks. This means an attacker can gain unauthorized access to restricted areas or perform actions that should be limited to privileged users. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 indicates a critical severity, with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality and integrity is high, as attackers can access or modify sensitive data or functionality. Availability is not impacted. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime target for attackers once exploit code becomes available. The issue stems from a failure in properly validating or restricting the user-controlled key, which is used in access control decisions within the plugin. This plugin is commonly used by organizations to manage job postings and applications on WordPress sites, making the exposure of sensitive applicant or company data a significant risk. The vulnerability was published on January 22, 2026, and no official patches or updates are currently linked, emphasizing the need for vigilance and interim mitigations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-24379 can be severe. WP Job Portal is often used by recruitment agencies, HR departments, and job boards to manage sensitive candidate information and company job postings. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal data, violating GDPR and other privacy regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Attackers could also manipulate job postings or application data, undermining the integrity of recruitment processes and damaging organizational reputation. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication, it can be exploited by external attackers, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. The absence of availability impact means systems remain operational, but confidentiality and integrity breaches could cause long-term damage. Additionally, organizations may face operational disruptions as they investigate and remediate the issue. The risk is heightened in sectors with high recruitment activity or sensitive hiring processes, such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions in Europe.

1. Monitor WP Job Portal vendor communications closely for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2026-24379 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Until patches are available, implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-controlled keys or parameters related to access control within the plugin, possibly via custom code or web application firewall (WAF) rules. 3. Restrict access to the WP Job Portal administrative and sensitive endpoints using IP whitelisting or VPN access to reduce exposure. 4. Conduct thorough audits of access control configurations within the plugin to ensure no overly permissive settings exist. 5. Employ network-level protections such as WAFs to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. 6. Regularly review logs for unusual access patterns or unauthorized activities related to the plugin. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks and encourage prompt reporting of anomalies. 8. Consider temporary disabling or replacing the WP Job Portal plugin with alternative solutions if immediate patching is not feasible.