# CVE-2026-54262: Wagtail improper permission handling in simple_translation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-54262-wagtail-improper-permission-handling-in-simple-translation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-01. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-54262 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.3 · Published 2026-07-01

Wagtail is a popular Django-based CMS used to manage website content and permissions. A permission bypass vulnerability allows low-level translators to create translations for any page in the system, including those they have no authorization to access. This could expose sensitive draft content or allow translators to make unauthorized changes to content they should not be able to modify.

Technologies: [wagtail (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-wagtail), [Wagtail](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/wagtail). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi), [Wagtail](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wagtail).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-54262 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-54262 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-54262?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.3, published 1 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** wagtail (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=7.0.8, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=7.0.8,introduced=7.1,fixed=7.3.3,introduced=7.4,fixed=7.4.2; Wagtail < 7.0.8, >= 7.1 < 7.3.3, >= 7.4 < 7.4.2, < 7.0.8, >= 7.1.0 < 7.3.3, >= 7.4.0 < 7.4.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-54262?** Yes. wagtail (PyPI): upgrade to 7.0.8, 7.4.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-54262 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-54262?** Check whether you run wagtail (PyPI) or Wagtail 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

- wagtail (PyPI): upgrade to 7.0.8, 7.4.2 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "wagtail>=7.4.2"
  ```


## Technical details

This is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Wagtail's simple_translation feature that stems from improper handling of permissions (CWE-280). A user with only the "Can submit translation" permission can bypass page-level access controls to create translations for any page in the system, regardless of whether they have been granted permission to view or edit that specific page. The vulnerability is network-accessible and requires only low-level authentication (the translator role); no additional user interaction is needed. An attacker can exploit this to read sensitive page content or create unauthorized translations. Patches are available in Wagtail 7.0.8, 7.3.3, and 7.4.2.

## Affected products

- Wagtail Wagtail < 7.0.8, >= 7.1 < 7.3.3, >= 7.4 < 7.4.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-54262
- GHSA-8634-mr4j-r72c
- PYSEC-2026-615

## Timeline

- 2026-06-15: disclosed: Published by Wagtail on GitHub
- 2026-08-20: advisory: GitHub Advisory Database updated
- 2026-06-15: patched: Patches released in versions 7.0.8, 7.3.3, 7.4.2

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008](https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008)
- [https://github.com/devansh3008](https://github.com/devansh3008)
- [https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008/repos](https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/30910269?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/30910269?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/devansh3008/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [Wagtail permission bypass in copy page for translation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125106-wagtail-is-an-open-source-content-management-system-built-on)
- [Wagtail Documents and Images API access control bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123820-wagtail-is-an-open-source-content-management-system-built-on)
- [Wagtail snippet copy permission bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123819-wagtail-is-an-open-source-content-management-system-built-on)
- [Wagtail Pages admin API improper access control](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55468-wagtail-pages-admin-api-improper-access-control)
- [Wagtail improper permission restriction on page translation API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/wagtail-improper-permission-restriction-on-page-translation-api-871f4804)