# CVE-2026-18469: WordPress Login & Register Forms authentication bypass in password reset

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-18469-wordpress-login-register-forms-authentication-bypass-in-password  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-10. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-18469 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.1 · Published 2026-08-10

The Login & Register Forms WordPress plugin (versions before 4.0.2) fails to properly enforce rate limits on password reset verification codes, allowing attackers to bypass attempt limits by changing their supposed source IP address. An attacker knowing a victim's email address can brute-force the 6-digit reset code and take over any account, including administrator accounts, potentially gaining full control of the website and access to all user data.

Technologies: [Wordpress Login & Register Forms](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/login-register-forms). Vendors: [Wordpress](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wordpress).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-18469 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-18469 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-18469?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 10 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Wordpress Login & Register Forms 3.2.5 to 4.0.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-18469?** A patch was published on 2026-08-05: Fixed in version 4.0.2 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-18469 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-18469?** Check whether you run Wordpress Login & Register Forms 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.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is an authentication bypass in the password reset functionality that stems from keying rate-limit counters on client-controlled data (the X-Real-IP or X-Forwarded-For header) rather than server-derived values. An unauthenticated attacker can reset the 7-attempt limit by changing the header value, obtaining a fresh code and attempt counter for each iteration. The code space is only 900,000 possibilities (six digits: 100000–999999), so an attacker can brute-force it in roughly 1.7 hours across 12 concurrent reset requests using only 120 requests/second. The vulnerability affects all versions from 3.2.5 through 4.0.1; version 4.0.1 also lacks nonce validation entirely. It is only triggered when the "Reset Password Email" setting is configured to "Send Verification Code" (not the default "Send Reset Link"). A fix is available in version 4.0.2.

## Affected products

- WordPress Login & Register Forms 3.2.5 to 4.0.1

## Timeline

- 2026-08-05: disclosed
- 2026-08-10: advisory
- 2026-08-05: patched: Fixed in version 4.0.2

## References

- [https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/be74144a-b45b-469f-8631-7fdca6d19a66/](https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/be74144a-b45b-469f-8631-7fdca6d19a66/)

## Related threats

- [WordPress Login & Register Forms account takeover via password reset](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-18468-wordpress-login-register-forms-account-takeover-via-password)