CVE-2026-97637: CWE-287 Improper Authentication in parorrey JSON API Auth
The JSON API Auth plugin for WordPress up to version 3.1.2 suffers from an authentication bypass vulnerability due to cached session cookie disclosure. This occurs because the parent plugin caches authenticated responses without considering HTTP method or POST body, allowing unauthenticated attackers to retrieve valid administrator session cookies from cached GET responses. Exploitation requires the parent plugin to be active with the Auth controller enabled and a recent administrator authentication event. The vulnerability has a critical severity with a CVSS score of 9.8.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-97637 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in the JSON API Auth WordPress plugin (versions up to 3.1.2). The parent plugin PI-Media/json-api caches controller dispatch results keyed only by URI and query string, ignoring HTTP method and POST body. This caching causes the generate_auth_cookie endpoint to serve cached authenticated responses containing live WordPress logged_in cookies to unauthenticated GET requests. Attackers can thus retrieve valid administrator session cookies and fully authenticate as the site administrator. Exploitation requires the parent plugin to be installed and active with the Auth controller enabled, and a legitimate administrator to have recently generated an auth cookie within the 24-hour cache TTL. The plugin's HTTPS enforcement can be bypassed by adding an insecure=cool parameter.
Potential Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can obtain a valid administrator session cookie from cached API responses and use it to fully authenticate as the site administrator. This grants complete control over the WordPress site, including access to all administrative functions and data. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress site.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or fix is currently documented. Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, administrators should consider disabling the JSON API Auth plugin or the PI-Media/json-api parent plugin, or disabling the Auth controller to prevent exploitation. Additionally, restricting access to the API endpoints and monitoring for suspicious access patterns may reduce risk.
CVE-2026-97637: CWE-287 Improper Authentication in parorrey JSON API Auth
Description
The JSON API Auth plugin for WordPress up to version 3.1.2 suffers from an authentication bypass vulnerability due to cached session cookie disclosure. This occurs because the parent plugin caches authenticated responses without considering HTTP method or POST body, allowing unauthenticated attackers to retrieve valid administrator session cookies from cached GET responses. Exploitation requires the parent plugin to be active with the Auth controller enabled and a recent administrator authentication event. The vulnerability has a critical severity with a CVSS score of 9.8.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.8critical
Affected software
parorrey
JSON API Auth
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-97637 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in the JSON API Auth WordPress plugin (versions up to 3.1.2). The parent plugin PI-Media/json-api caches controller dispatch results keyed only by URI and query string, ignoring HTTP method and POST body. This caching causes the generate_auth_cookie endpoint to serve cached authenticated responses containing live WordPress logged_in cookies to unauthenticated GET requests. Attackers can thus retrieve valid administrator session cookies and fully authenticate as the site administrator. Exploitation requires the parent plugin to be installed and active with the Auth controller enabled, and a legitimate administrator to have recently generated an auth cookie within the 24-hour cache TTL. The plugin's HTTPS enforcement can be bypassed by adding an insecure=cool parameter.
Potential Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can obtain a valid administrator session cookie from cached API responses and use it to fully authenticate as the site administrator. This grants complete control over the WordPress site, including access to all administrative functions and data. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress site.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or fix is currently documented. Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, administrators should consider disabling the JSON API Auth plugin or the PI-Media/json-api parent plugin, or disabling the Auth controller to prevent exploitation. Additionally, restricting access to the API endpoints and monitoring for suspicious access patterns may reduce risk.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- Wordfence
- Date Reserved
- 2026-09-24T17:21:34.901Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6abf6163a43b0b3b898ac74a
Added to database: 10/02/2026, 07:46:43 UTC
Last enriched: 10/02/2026, 08:01:12 UTC
Last updated: 10/02/2026, 09:01:36 UTC
Views: 9
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