CVE-2026-104022

What it is

The Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.0.3. This is due to the `add_child()` function calling `add_role('academy_student')` on any existing account resolved from the attacker-supplied `email` parameter before `Store::link()` validates the guardian-ward relationship, and failing to roll back that role write when `Store::link()` returns a `WP_Error`. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the `academy_guardian` role or higher to elevate any existing WordPress account — including their own — to the `academy_student` role, gaining `edit_posts` (Contributor-equivalent) capabilities and, when the student file-upload setting is enabled, `upload_files` (Author-equivalent) capabilities not granted to the guardian role. When a guardian supplies their own email address, `email_exists()` resolves to their own user ID, causing `Store::link()` to reject the self-link, but because the `add_role()` call has already executed and is never reversed, the academy_student role grant on their own account persists permanently.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network with a low-privilege account. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2026-10-01 17:03 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2. 2026-10-10 03:17 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
3. 2026-10-13 13:30 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.4 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2026-10-10 03:17 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-13 13:30 UTC

Exploit probability

0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-269 · Improper privilege management

Record status

Deferred

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.4

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-104022.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-104022. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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