GiveWP allows donor identity confusion to reset linked account passwords
GiveWP from 4.16.6 up to but not including 4.16.8.1: An unauthenticated requester can exploit inconsistent donor-email normalization between storage and lookup to be resolved as another donor. The attacker can then set the WordPress password of any account linked to that donor, including an administrator account if one is linked. The export does not disclose the email representation, route, parameters or reset handler; an unlinked account is not established as reachable.
- Component
- GiveWP
- Plugin slug
give- Affected
- 4.16.6 to < 4.16.8.1
- Safe version
4.16.8.1- Published
- Sep 16, 2026
This CVE was published Sep 16, 2026 and is one of 69 known issues for this plugin.
Update, patch or deactivate.
Update GiveWP to 4.16.8.1 or later. Normalize donor identity consistently and require proof of account ownership before changing a linked user's password. Do not treat a donor lookup alone as reset authorization. Review unexpected password resets and revoke unauthorized sessions for affected linked users.
A safe version is available, so updating to that version or later is the preferred remediation. If an immediate update is not practical, consider a targeted application patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality.
Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.
Technical description
The GiveWP WordPress plugin before 4.16.8.1 does not consistently normalise a donor's e-mail address between the value it stores and the value it later uses to look that donor up, allowing unauthenticated users to be resolved as an arbitrary donor and to set the WordPress password of any user account linked to one, including an administrator's.
CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H