CVE-2026-12281 json
Shibboleth < 2.5.4 - Unauthenticated Administrator Account Creation via Identity Header Spoofing
published 2026-07-15 3 mo ago modified 2026-07-15 3 mo ago also EUVD-2026-44594
- cvss
- 8.1
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.4%
- EPSS 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 32%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
The Shibboleth WordPress plugin before 2.5.4 does not fail closed when its HTTP header identity mode is enabled without an anti-spoofing key, treating any request that carries identity headers as an authenticated session without verifying them. On a deployment where untrusted client headers reach the application, an unauthenticated attacker can log in with forged identity headers and, when automatic account creation and the default administrator role mapping are enabled, create and sign in as a new administrator. Exploitation requires the non-default HTTP header attribute mode, an empty or absent spoof key, automatic account creation enabled, and a deployment that does not strip untrusted client headers before they reach the application.
Patch / fix
- Unknown Shibboleth 2.5.4
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 3 mo ago
Exploit prediction
0.38% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 32% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- wpscan.com https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/8474eda4-6385-447a-9139-f57c049d1713/ referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA ADP | 3.1 | 8.1 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| CNA | 3.1 | 8.1 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
Affected products
- Unknown Shibboleth
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-287 Improper Authentication
- Technology feeds
References
-
wpscan.com
/vulnerability/8474eda4-6385-447a-9139-f57c049d1713/
exploit, vdb-entry, technical-description
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2026-12281
- NVD CVE-2026-12281
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.
CPEs and fixed versions use Anchore's correction of NVD's data: Added CPE configurations because not yet analyzed by NVD.