# CVE-2026-16576: Dokan < 5.0.14 - Shop Manager+ Arbitrary Plugin Installation/Activation via REST API

> Shop Managers can install and activate arbitrary plugins via REST API due to insufficient capability checks, leading to potential code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 21 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vqf4-66cf-wcw6

## What is CVE-2026-16576?

CVE-2026-16576 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Unknown Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution, published on 21 Aug 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution  WordPress plugin before 5.0.14 does not correctly check user capabilities on some of its admin REST API routes, checking only for a WooCommerce management capability instead of the Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution  WordPress plugin before 5.0.14-installation capability, allowing users such as Shop Managers to install and activate arbitrary Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution  WordPress plugin before 5.0.14 from WordPress.org.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-16576?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-16576?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-16576 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-16576 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-16576 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-16576 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-16576 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Unknown Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution, published on 21 Aug 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-16576 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16576/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16576/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-16576
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16576
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-16576

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16576/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.