CVE-2026-2694 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) found in the The Events Calendar WordPress plugin developed by stellarwp. The flaw exists due to insufficient capability checks in the 'can_edit' and 'can_delete' functions, which are responsible for authorizing modifications and deletions of calendar events, organizers, and venues. This improper authorization allows any authenticated user with Contributor-level access or higher to exploit the REST API endpoints to update or trash these entities without proper permissions. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 6.15.16. Since Contributors typically have limited editing rights, this escalation of privileges can lead to unauthorized data modification or deletion, impacting the integrity and availability of event-related data. The attack vector is network-based (remote), requiring authentication but no user interaction, making it relatively easy to exploit within compromised or legitimate user accounts. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability poses a risk to websites relying on this plugin for event management. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4, indicating a medium severity level, with the main impacts being integrity and availability loss. The vulnerability was published on February 25, 2026, and no official patches are linked yet, emphasizing the need for immediate attention from site administrators.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-2694 is unauthorized modification and deletion of event data, organizers, and venues within WordPress sites using The Events Calendar plugin. This can disrupt event scheduling, cause loss of critical event information, and degrade user trust in affected websites. For organizations relying on event data for business operations, marketing, or customer engagement, such unauthorized changes can lead to operational disruptions and reputational damage. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access at Contributor level or above, attackers who gain such credentials—through phishing, credential stuffing, or insider threats—can exploit this flaw to manipulate event content. The impact is limited to data integrity and availability; confidentiality is not directly affected. However, the ease of exploitation via REST API and the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin globally increase the risk of targeted attacks. Organizations with high traffic event sites or those in sectors like education, entertainment, and corporate event management are particularly vulnerable.

To mitigate CVE-2026-2694, organizations should immediately verify user roles and permissions, ensuring that only trusted users have Contributor-level or higher access. Implement strict access controls and monitor user activity for suspicious modifications to event data. Disable or restrict REST API access for users who do not require it, using plugins or custom code to limit API endpoints exposure. Regularly audit installed plugins and update The Events Calendar plugin to the latest version once a patch is released by stellarwp. In the interim, consider temporarily downgrading user privileges or disabling event editing features for non-administrative users. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block unauthorized REST API requests targeting event modification endpoints. Additionally, monitor logs for unusual API activity and implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised credentials being used to exploit this vulnerability.