Summary
CVE-2026-73996 is a critical Unrestricted File Upload vulnerability (CWE-434) in the Masteriyo – LMS WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 2.3.2. The flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload arbitrary files — including web shells — to the site, leading to potential full remote code execution. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical).
Technical details
- Root cause: an upload-handling code path in the plugin fails to properly restrict the type of file that can be submitted (CWE-434, Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type).
- Trigger conditions: no authentication or user interaction is required; the vulnerable endpoint is reachable pre-auth on any site running the affected plugin.
- Attack vector: network-facing (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N).
- Impact: successful exploitation can result in a web shell or other malicious file being placed on the server, giving the attacker a foothold for arbitrary code execution and full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the site.
Affected software
- Masteriyo – LMS WordPress plugin, versions <= 2.3.2
Severity
- CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 9.8 (Critical)
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Mitigation and recommended actions
- Immediate: upgrade Masteriyo – LMS to version 2.3.3 or later, where the upload handling has been fixed.
- If patching is not immediately possible: disable or remove the plugin until it can be updated, restrict access to the affected upload functionality at the web server/WAF layer, and monitor uploads directories for unexpected or executable files (e.g., PHP files) as an interim compensating control.

