Description
The MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin WordPress plugin before 3.7.50 does not validate one of its display-style settings before using it to build a template path, allowing users with the Contributor role and above to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files on the server. An equivalent path was corrected in an earlier release and this one was not, so the issue persists in versions the earlier advisory reports as fixed.
Published: 2026-09-24
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: Remote Code Execution via Local File Inclusion
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin before 3.7.50 fails to validate a display-style configuration used in the Elementor Courses Categories Widget. This oversight allows a user with Contributor or higher privileges to supply an arbitrary file path that is then used to build a template path, leading to inclusion and execution of any local PHP file on the server. The result is remote code execution bounded by the permissions of the contributor role, which can compromise the entire site and expose sensitive data.

Affected Systems

WordPress sites running the MasterStudy LMS plugin version 3.5.29 and all earlier releases up to, but not including, 3.7.50 are affected. The vulnerability exploits the Elementor Courses Categories Widget within the plugin.

Risk and Exploitability

The absence of a publicly available EPSS score and its lack of listing in the CISA KEV catalog suggest that large‑scale exploitation has not been observed to date, but the vulnerability remains exploitable as long as a contributor account exists. Attackers can trigger the Local File Inclusion remotely via the plugin’s interface, potentially executing arbitrary PHP on the server. The impact could extend to full site compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the hosting environment.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 24, 2026 at 07:24 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade to MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin version 3.7.50 or later.
  • If an upgrade is not possible, remove or disable the Elementor Courses Categories Widget to prevent exploitation.
  • Restrict Contributor role privileges to eliminate the ability to modify widget settings that influence file paths.
  • Apply strict file permissions so that any included PHP files cannot be executed unless intended.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 24, 2026 at 07:24 UTC.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-22
CWE-94

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin WordPress plugin before 3.7.50 does not validate one of its display-style settings before using it to build a template path, allowing users with the Contributor role and above to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files on the server. An equivalent path was corrected in an earlier release and this one was not, so the issue persists in versions the earlier advisory reports as fixed.
Title MasterStudy LMS 3.5.29 - < 3.7.50 - Contributor+ LFI via Elementor Courses Categories Widget
References

Subscriptions

No data.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: WPScan

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-24T06:00:18.035Z

Reserved: 2026-09-10T09:57:31.729Z

Link: CVE-2026-88843

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-24T06:17:03.207

Modified: 2026-09-24T06:17:03.207

Link: CVE-2026-88843

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-24T07:30:16Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-22

    Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

  • CWE-94

    Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')