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CVE-2026-18961 – Authentication Bypass (Login as Any User) – Social Login, Passkeys, Magic Link & Em

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Summary

CVE-2026-18961 is an improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287) in the "Social Login, Passkeys, Magic Link & Email OTP – Passwordless Login" WordPress plugin by VentraConnect, affecting versions up to and including 1.4.3. The plugin trusts an unverified email address returned by Spotify’s OAuth flow when linking or authenticating a WordPress account, allowing a remote, unauthenticated attacker to log in as any existing user — including administrators — by supplying that user’s email through an attacker-controlled Spotify OAuth session. The issue carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (High).

Technical details

  • Root cause: The plugin’s Spotify social-login integration accepts the email address returned by Spotify’s OAuth API as proof of ownership, without confirming the email has been verified or independently validated before it is passed to WordPress user-authentication/user-linking functions.
  • Trigger conditions: An attacker registers or configures a Spotify account/OAuth flow that returns an email address matching a targeted WordPress user (e.g., a site administrator), then completes the plugin’s social login process.
  • Attack vector: Network — no authentication or user interaction with the victim is required; the vulnerability requires high attack complexity (AC:H) because the attacker must control or manipulate the OAuth email value returned by Spotify.
  • Impact: Full authentication bypass resulting in account takeover, including complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress site if an administrator account is impersonated.

Affected software

  • Social Login, Passkeys, Magic Link & Email OTP – Passwordless Login (VentraConnect) — versions 0 through 1.4.3

Severity

  • CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 8.1 (High)
  • Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: Update the plugin to version 1.4.4 or later, where email verification is enforced before authentication/account linking.
  • If immediate patching is not possible: Disable the Spotify social login provider within the plugin’s settings until the update can be applied, and review recent admin/user logins for signs of unauthorized access via social login.

References

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