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CVSS 10.0CVSS 10.0 · CRITICAL

CVE-2026-18051File overwrite vulnerability in W3 Total Cache for WordPress

The W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin before 2.10.5 does not properly validate the request path it uses to build cache file names, allowing unauthenticated attackers to write a file into any existing directory on the server, inside or outside the web root, overwriting whatever occupies the target name. On Apache, the same flaw overwrites the site's .htaccess files, which breaks the site and can strip hardening rules that other security measures rely on.

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Analysis

El plugin W3 Total Cache para WordPress permite a atacantes no autenticados escribir o sobrescribir archivos en cualquier directorio del servidor debido a una validación de ruta deficiente. Esta vulnerabilidad permite deshabilitar el sitio o eliminar reglas de endurecimiento de seguridad al sobrescribir archivos críticos como .htaccess en servidores Apache. Se recomienda actualizar a la versión 2.10.5 inmediatamente para evitar el compromiso de la infraestructura.

Relevant roles

PhpBackendCyberSecurityLinux

Severity

Score: 10.0(CRITICAL)
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H
AV: NETWORK
AC: LOW
PR: NONE
UI: NONE
S: CHANGED
C: NONE
I: HIGH
A: HIGH
Weakness (CWE): CWE-22

EPSS

Probability of exploitation (next 30 days): 0.0018 (0.2%)
Percentile: 7.8%
EPSS: 2026-08-19

Technical description

The W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin before 2.10.5 does not properly validate the request path it uses to build cache file names, allowing unauthenticated attackers to write a file into any existing directory on the server, inside or outside the web root, overwriting whatever occupies the target name. On Apache, the same flaw overwrites the site's .htaccess files, which breaks the site and can strip hardening rules that other security measures rely on.

Published: 8/19/2026, 6:17:36 AM
Last modified: 8/19/2026, 5:18:36 PM

References

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