Vulnerability Description
The InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 0.1.3.6 via the (top-level script) function. This is due to the plugin stores its encrypted options file as options-{migrate_key}.txt in wp-content/instawpbackups/ without deploying an index.php or .htaccess to prevent directory listing, exposing the 40-character migrate_key on Apache servers with directory indexing enabled, which allows an attacker to derive the AES-256-CBC passphrase via SHA256(migrate_key), decrypt the options file to recover the api_signature. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to get the database access details and api_signature. Exploitation requires the target WordPress site to be hosted on Apache with directory listing enabled (Options +Indexes) for the wp-content/instawpbackups/ directory, and time limited because it can only be exploited during the migration period.
CVSS Score
HIGH
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/instawp-connect/tags/0.1.3.4/includes
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3634049/instawp-connect
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f5319467-92f6-4d4f-a76
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-13457?
CVE-2026-13457 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). The InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 0.1.3.6 via the (top-level script) function. This...
How severe is CVE-2026-13457?
CVE-2026-13457 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.5/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-13457?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Review vendor security bulletins for remediation guidance.