CVE-2026-118193
GiveWP <= 4.19.1 - Authenticated (Custom+) Privilege Escalation to 'donor_default_user_role' Parameter
The GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.19.1 via the donor_default_user_role parameter. This is due to the sanitize_option_donor_default_user_role() function applying only a narrow literal check against the string 'administrator' rather than enforcing the plugin's own give_get_donor_safe_user_roles() allowlist on save, and due to the give_core_settings_import_callback() AJAX handler writing imported JSON directly into the give_settings option via update_option() without invoking the sanitize filter at all. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the GiveWP Manager role (holding the manage_give_settings capability) and above to configure donor registration to assign privileged WordPress roles — up to and including Administrator via the import path — to every new donor account created through the platform. Via the settings save path, the Administrator role is blocked but any other elevated role (Editor, Author, etc.) is accepted; via the Tools › Import JSON path, the sanitize filter is bypassed entirely, allowing the Administrator role itself to be stored and subsequently applied to all newly registered donor accounts.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.8
GiveWP <= 4.19.1 - Authenticated (Custom+) Privilege Escalation to 'donor_default_user_role' Parameter
The GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.19.1 via the donor_default_user_role parameter. This is due to the sanitize_option_donor_default_user_role() function applying only a narrow literal check against the string 'administrator' rather than enforcing the plugin's own give_get_donor_safe_user_roles() allowlist on save, and due to the give_core_settings_import_callback() AJAX handler writing imported JSON directly into the give_settings option via update_option() without invoking the sanitize filter at all. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the GiveWP Manager role (holding the manage_give_settings capability) and above to configure donor registration to assign privileged WordPress roles — up to and including Administrator via the import path — to every new donor account created through the platform. Via the settings save path, the Administrator role is blocked but any other elevated role (Editor, Author, etc.) is accepted; via the Tools › Import JSON path, the sanitize filter is bypassed entirely, allowing the Administrator role itself to be stored and subsequently applied to all newly registered donor accounts.
- Record
CVE-2026-118193- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
EUVDEUVD-2026-117330
8.8
The GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.19.1 via the donor_default_user_role parameter. This is due to the sanitize_option_donor_default_user_role() function applying only a narrow literal check against the string 'administrator' rather than enforcing the plugin's own give_get_donor_safe_user_roles() allowlist on save, and due to the give_core_settings_import_callback() AJAX handler writing imported JSON directly into the give_settings option via update_option() without invoking the sanitize filter at all. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the GiveWP Manager role (holding the manage_give_settings capability) and above to configure donor registration to assign privileged WordPress roles — up to and including Administrator via the import path — to every new donor account created through the platform. Via the settings save path, the Administrator role is blocked but any other elevated role (Editor, Author, etc.) is accepted; via the Tools › Import JSON path, the sanitize filter is bypassed entirely, allowing the Administrator role itself to be stored and subsequently applied to all newly registered donor accounts.
- Record
EUVD-2026-117330- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-05
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-cg38-f4xr-fwg3
8.8
The GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to...
The GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.19.1 via the donor_default_user_role parameter. This is due to the sanitize_option_donor_default_user_role() function applying only a narrow literal check against the string 'administrator' rather than enforcing the plugin's own give_get_donor_safe_user_roles() allowlist on save, and due to the give_core_settings_import_callback() AJAX handler writing imported JSON directly into the give_settings option via update_option() without invoking the sanitize filter at all. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the GiveWP Manager role (holding the manage_give_settings capability) and above to configure donor registration to assign privileged WordPress roles — up to and including Administrator via the import path — to every new donor account created through the platform. Via the settings save path, the Administrator role is blocked but any other elevated role (Editor, Author, etc.) is accepted; via the Tools › Import JSON path, the sanitize filter is bypassed entirely, allowing the Administrator role itself to be stored and subsequently applied to all newly registered donor accounts.
- Record
GHSA-cg38-f4xr-fwg3- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
NVD
8.8
The GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.19.1 via the donor_default_user_role parameter. This is due to the sanitize_option_donor_default_user_role() function applying only a narrow literal check against the string 'administrator' rather than enforcing the plugin's own give_get_donor_safe_user_roles() allowlist on save, and due to the give_core_settings_import_callback() AJAX handler writing imported JSON directly into the give_settings option via update_option() without invoking the sanitize filter at all. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the GiveWP Manager role (holding the manage_give_settings capability) and above to configure donor registration to assign privileged WordPress roles — up to and including Administrator via the import path — to every new donor account created through the platform. Via the settings save path, the Administrator role is blocked but any other elevated role (Editor, Author, etc.) is accepted; via the Tools › Import JSON path, the sanitize filter is bypassed entirely, allowing the Administrator role itself to be stored and subsequently applied to all newly registered donor accounts.
- Record
CVE-2026-118193- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, cwes, references, severity, title | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD | |
| first indexed | EUVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-118193 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Stellarwp Givewp – Donation Plugin And Fundraising Platform, published November 5, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.40%, the 34th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f2ab1544-2428-4c93-b973-8280ff7a2903?source=cve
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/give/tags/4.19.0/includes/admin/settings/class-settings-advanced.php
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/give/tags/4.19.0/includes/admin/admin-actions.php
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/give/tags/4.19.0/includes/process-donation.php
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/give/tags/4.19.0/src/Donors/Actions/CreateUserFromDonor.php
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3782355/give/trunk/includes/admin/settings/class-settings-advanced.php
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118193
github.com/advisories/GHSA-cg38-f4xr-fwg3