Cybersecurity professionals consider CVE-2026-15991 an immediate threat requiring urgent mitigation.
Status: Received on 06 Aug 2026, 05:16 UTC
Published on: 06 Aug 2026, 05:16 UTC
CVSS Release: version 3
security@wordfence.com
Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVE-2026-15991: The File Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the connector function in all versions from 6.0 - 6.9. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to read and delete arbitrary files on the server, which can lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). The bypass is triggered by passing cmd=rm or cmf=file in the URL query string of a POST request: elFinder's bind registration reads the command exclusively from $_POST and therefore never registers the rm.pre permission handler, while the dispatcher reads from the merged $_GET+$_POST superglobal and executes the rm or file command unchecked against a volume that defaults to ABSPATH.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-15991 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2026-15991 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-15991, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-15991, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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