Reported vulnerability

Academy LMS <= 4.0.3 - Authenticated (Custom+) Privilege Escalation to add_child REST endpoint

Published 9 Oct 2026

Updated 10 Oct 2026

CVE-2026-104022

Compare your installed software with the affected versions below. Follow the source’s remediation guidance and test an available update after taking a backup. A database entry describes a reported issue; it does not establish whether a particular website has been compromised.

Does this affect my version?

Check your installed version against this advisory. This compares the report’s version ranges and does not scan your website.

Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning

In WordPress, open Plugins > Installed Plugins and find the version shown beneath the plugin name.

Wordfence advisory

medium · CVSS 5.4

The Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 4.0.3. This is due to the `add_child()` function calling `add_role('academy_student')` on any existing account resolved from the attacker-supplied `email` parameter before `Store::link()` validates the guardian-ward relationship, and failing to roll back that role write when `Store::link()` returns a `WP_Error`. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with the `academy_guardian` role or higher to elevate any existing WordPress account — including their own — to the `academy_student` role, gaining `edit_posts` (Contributor-equivalent) capabilities and, when the student file-upload setting is enabled, `upload_files` (Author-equivalent) capabilities not granted to the guardian role. When a guardian supplies their own email address, `email_exists()` resolves to their own user ID, causing `Store::link()` to reject the self-link, but because the `add_role()` call has already executed and is never reversed, the academy_student role grant on their own account persists permanently.

Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning

Software
plugin · academy
Affected versions
Start version unspecified, through 4.0.3
Fix availability
Fix available
Fixed versions
4.0.4

Recommended action

Update to version 4.0.4, or a newer patched version

Further references (1)
Data sources and licences

Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc.

Defiant hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute this software vulnerability information. Any copy of the software vulnerability information you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you include a hyperlink to this vulnerability record and reproduce Defiant's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.

Read licence terms

Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation

CVE Usage: MITRE hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®). Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.

Read licence terms

Source: Wordfence

Need help fixing this issue?

Get help checking your site, applying an available update and resolving any problems after updating.

Get help with this issue

Questions about this vulnerability

Which versions of Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning are affected?

Wordfence lists these affected versions: Start version unspecified, through 4.0.3. Use the version checker above to compare your installed release with this report.

Is a fix available for Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning?

Wordfence reports a fix for this issue in Academy LMS – AI Course Builder, Quizzes, Certificates & eLearning. It lists these fixed versions: 4.0.4. Back up your website and test the recommended update before applying it to your live site.

Where can I find my installed plugin version?

In WordPress, open Plugins > Installed Plugins and find the version shown beneath the plugin name.

Does an affected version mean my website has been hacked?

An affected version means the installed release matches a vulnerability described in this report. It does not show whether anyone has exploited it on your website. The checker compares version numbers with stored reports; it does not inspect your website.

Accessibility settings

Adjust how this site looks and moves. Your choices are saved in this browser.