The Backstage - Customizer Demo Access plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.2. This is due to the plugin assigning the `manage_options` capability to the `backstage_customizer_user` demo role, which is more permissive than necessary for Customizer-only demo access. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to navigate beyond the Customizer and update arbitrary WordPress options such as `default_role`, leading to privilege escalation.
History

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Pixelgrade
Pixelgrade backstage – Customizer Demo Access
Wordpress
Wordpress wordpress
Vendors & Products Pixelgrade
Pixelgrade backstage – Customizer Demo Access
Wordpress
Wordpress wordpress

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The Backstage - Customizer Demo Access plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.2. This is due to the plugin assigning the `manage_options` capability to the `backstage_customizer_user` demo role, which is more permissive than necessary for Customizer-only demo access. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to navigate beyond the Customizer and update arbitrary WordPress options such as `default_role`, leading to privilege escalation.
Title Backstage <= 1.4.2 - Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via Permissive Demo Role Capabilities
Weaknesses CWE-269
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Wordfence

Published: 2026-07-08T04:30:49.525Z

Updated: 2026-07-08T13:01:09.142Z

Reserved: 2026-05-28T13:26:31.589Z

Link: CVE-2026-9842

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-07-08T13:01:03.039Z

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.