# CVE-2026-103085: WP User Manager privilege escalation vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-103085-improper-access-control-vulnerability-in-wp-user-manager-wp-user  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-05. Updated: 2026-10-05  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-103085 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-10-05

WP User Manager is a WordPress plugin that manages user accounts and permissions on websites. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit improper access controls to escalate their privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected site.

Technologies: [WP User Manager](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/wp-user-manager). Vendors: [WP User Manager](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wp-user-manager).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-103085 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-103085 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-103085?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 5 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** WP User Manager through 2.9.20.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-103085?** Yes: fixed in 2.9.21. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-103085 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-103085?** Check whether you run WP User Manager at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 2.9.21

## Technical details

The vulnerability is an improper access control issue in WP User Manager that allows privilege escalation. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this flaw to escalate to administrator privileges and gain full control of the WordPress site. The vulnerability affects versions through 2.9.20 and is fixed in version 2.9.21.

## Affected products

- WP User Manager WP User Manager through 2.9.20

## Timeline

- 2026-09-24: disclosed
- 2026-10-03: advisory
- 2026-10-03: patched

## References

- [https://wordpress.org/plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins)
- [https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/wp-user-manager/vulnerability/wordpress-wp-user-manager-plugin-2-9-20-privilege-escalation-vulnerability?_s_id=cve](https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/wp-user-manager/vulnerability/wordpress-wp-user-manager-plugin-2-9-20-privilege-escalation-vulnerability?_s_id=cve)

## Related threats

- [WP User Manager broken access control vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-124413-missing-authorization-vulnerability-in-wp-user-manager-wp-user)
- [WP User Manager stored cross-site scripting in display name](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-120550-the-wp-user-manager-registration-form-login-form-user-profile)
- [WP User Manager broken access control in user permissions](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116846-missing-authorization-vulnerability-in-wp-user-manager-wp-user)
- [WP User Manager broken access control in user state](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112823-missing-authorization-vulnerability-in-wp-user-manager-wp-user)
- [WP User Manager payment bypass in account creation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110527-the-wp-user-manager-wordpress-plugin-before-2-9-20-does-not-roll)