CVE-2026-41940: WebPros cPanel & WHM and WP2 (WordPress Squared) Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability

Q: How do I fix CVE-2026-41940?

cpanel: upgrade to 86.0.41, 110.0.97, 118.0.63, 124.0.35, 126.0.54, 130.0.19, 132.0.29, 134.0.20, 136.0.5; whm: upgrade to 86.0.41, 110.0.97, 118.0.63, 124.0.35, 126.0.54, 130.0.19, 132.0.29, 134.0.20, 136.0.5; wp squared: upgrade to 136.1.7. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2026-41940 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2026-41940 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

Q: What does CVE-2026-41940 affect?

CVE-2026-41940 affects cpanel, whm, wp squared. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). cPanel and WHM versions after 11.40 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the login flow that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the control panel.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2026-41940?

Priority 100/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

100

Patch now

CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2026-41940 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting cpanel, whm, wp squared, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

cPanel and WHM versions after 11.40 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the login flow that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the control panel.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Used in ransomware campaigns
Public exploit reference
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	98.5% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2026-05-03, used in ransomware
Weakness	CWE-306
Published	2026-04-29
Last modified	2026-10-26

Publisher (CNA): VulnCheck · Vendor: cpanel

Last updated 2026-10-26 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-04-29 16:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-04-30Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2026-05-03Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-10-26 20:10 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cpanel cpanel UPGRADE

Affected: >= 11.40 and < 86.0.41 · >= 88.0.0 and < 110.0.97 · >= 112.0.0 and < 118.0.63 · >= 120.0.0 and < 124.0.35 · >= 126.0.1 and < 126.0.54 · >= 128.0.0 and < 130.0.19 · >= 132.0.0 and < 132.0.29 · >= 134.0.0 and < 134.0.20

Fixed in: 86.0.41, 110.0.97, 118.0.63, 124.0.35, 126.0.54, 130.0.19, 132.0.29, 134.0.20, 136.0.5

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.40

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cpanel || rpm -q cpanel || cpanel --version

2. UPGRADE to 86.0.41 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade cpanel

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade cpanel

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.40 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cpanel sudo apt install cpanel=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.40> sudo apt-mark hold cpanel

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list cpanel sudo dnf downgrade cpanel-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.40> sudo dnf versionlock add cpanel

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

cpanel whm UPGRADE

Fixed in: 86.0.41, 110.0.97, 118.0.63, 124.0.35, 126.0.54, 130.0.19, 132.0.29, 134.0.20, 136.0.5

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.40

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy whm || rpm -q whm || whm --version

2. UPGRADE to 86.0.41 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade whm

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade whm

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.40 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison whm sudo apt install whm=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.40> sudo apt-mark hold whm

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list whm sudo dnf downgrade whm-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.40> sudo dnf versionlock add whm

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

cpanel wp squared UPGRADE

Affected: < 136.1.7

Fixed in: 136.1.7

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy wp-squared || rpm -q wp-squared || wp-squared --version

2. UPGRADE to 136.1.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade wp-squared

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade wp-squared

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Exact fixes by distribution

Fedora 46 · ddnet · FIXED · 20.2-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-6991b4ab14 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-6991b4ab14

Fedora ELN · libplacebo · FIXED · 7.360.1-5.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-92226f221e · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-92226f221e

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: sakidekin/CVE-2026-41940-PoC (535 stars)
GitHub PoC: ynsmroztas/cPanelSniper (508 stars)
GitHub PoC: assetnote/cpanel2shell-scanner (93 stars)
Write-up: www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/critrical-cpanel-flaw-mass-exploited-in-sorry-ranso
Exploit-DB: cPanel - CRLF Injection
Metasploit: cPanel/WHM CRLF Injection Authentication Bypass RCE
Nuclei scan template: cPanel & WHM - Authentication Bypass via Session-File CRLF Injection

Advisories and coverage

Research and news

watchTowr Labs: The Internet Is Falling Down, Falling Down, Falling Down (cPanel & WHM Authentication Bypass CVE-2026-41940) 2026-04-29

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-41940?

cpanel: upgrade to 86.0.41, 110.0.97, 118.0.63, 124.0.35, 126.0.54, 130.0.19, 132.0.29, 134.0.20, 136.0.5; whm: upgrade to 86.0.41, 110.0.97, 118.0.63, 124.0.35, 126.0.54, 130.0.19, 132.0.29, 134.0.20, 136.0.5; wp squared: upgrade to 136.1.7. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-41940 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2026-41940 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2026-41940 affect?

CVE-2026-41940 affects cpanel, whm, wp squared. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). cPanel and WHM versions after 11.40 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in the login flow that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the control panel.

How urgent is CVE-2026-41940?

Priority 100/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

WordPress vulnerabilities

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References

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