Reset Database WordPress plugin: Privilege escalation via missing capability and nonce check
Summary
The Reset Database plugin for WordPress up to and including version 1.1.3 lets authenticated users with subscriber-level access or higher trigger a database reset function that lacks a capability check and a valid nonce check. An attacker can drop all prefixed database tables, reinstall WordPress with their own credentials, become the sole site administrator, and delete the uploads directory. The attack requires only a low-privileged account, so sites with open registration, membership or shop accounts are at highest risk.
Affected
- Reset Database WordPress plugin (maltesesolutions), versions 0 through 1.1.3
- Not affected: WP Database Reset (webfactory), a different plugin
Fixed in
Unknown.
Workaround
Unknown.
- No vendor mitigation is documented in the sources reviewed.
- Restrict or disable open user registration.
Exploitation
- Known exploitation in the wild: Not known.
- Public proof of concept: Unknown.
- CVSS 8.8 (High), vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Our recommendation
- Identify all sites running Reset Database, starting with version 1.1.3 and below.
- Deactivate and remove the plugin from production sites; a database reset tool has no legitimate use there.
- If the plugin must remain, restrict user registration, review accounts for unknown administrators, and check for unexpected database or upload changes.
- Take and verify an off-server backup before any change.
- Monitor the Wordfence record and the plugin page for a fixed version.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CVE Record CVE-2026-119615 www.cve.org
- Wordfence threat intelligence record www.wordfence.com
- Plugin source: reset-database.php (process_reset) plugins.trac.wordpress.org
- OffSeq radar entry radar.offseq.com
- PT-2026-119615 (Vulners) vulners.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 13:23.
Original description (NVD)
The Reset Database plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation in versions up to, and including, 1.1.3. This is due to the process_reset() function being registered on admin_init with no capability check, a computed-but-unused nonce, a gating condition that passes whenever no WordPress administrator literally named 'admin' exists (the default on modern installs), and an identity test that verifies the ATTACKER'S OWN password rather than an administrator's. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to drop every prefixed database table, re-run wp_install() with their own credentials — making the attacker the sole site administrator — authenticate as that administrator via wp_set_auth_cookie(), and delete the uploads directory.
NVD references (7)
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reset-database/trunk/reset-database.php#L114
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reset-database/trunk/reset-database.php#L26
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reset-database/trunk/reset-database.php#L55
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reset-database/trunk/reset-database.php#L63
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reset-database/trunk/reset-database.php#L84
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reset-database/trunk/reset-database.php#L90
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/77a5f551-523c-4c7c-9834-9443ecfd3456?source=cve
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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