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W3 Total Cache CVE-2024-12365

HIGH
Missing Authorization (CWE-862)
2025-01-14 security@wordfence.com
8.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization checks on every request
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 16.98%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%.
Patch available 17.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026

The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the is_w3tc_admin_page function in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Epss exploitation probability 17.0%.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Implement role-based access control, validate authorization on every request server-side, apply principle of least privilege.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Missing Authorization (CWE-862), which allows attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks. The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the is_w3tc_admin_page function in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to obtain the plugin's nonce value and perform unauthorized actions, resulting in information disclosure, service plan limits consumption as well as making web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application that can be used to query information from internal services, including instance metadata on cloud-based applications. Affected products include: Boldgrid W3 Total Cache.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch released
Mar 28, 2026 - 18:03 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Jan 14, 2025 - 07:15 nvd
HIGH 8.5

DescriptionCVE.org

The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the is_w3tc_admin_page function in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to obtain the plugin's nonce value and perform unauthorized actions, resulting in information disclosure, service plan limits consumption as well as making web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application that can be used to query information from internal services, including instance metadata on cloud-based applications.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using W3 Total Cache face significant risk from CVE-2024-12365, a missing authorization vulnerability rated CVSS 8.5. Attackers could bypass security controls to gain unauthorized access to protected resources and sensitive data. With an EPSS score of 17%, exploitation is likely in exposed deployments. A patch is available and should be applied as part of regular vulnerability management.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure; (2) Enable enhanced monitoring and alerting; (3) Apply principle of least privilege.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
17.0%
Top 5% exploitable

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 17.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Very High

Priority Score

59
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +17
CVSS: +42
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:boldgrid:w3_total_cache:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
CVE-2024-12008 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Jan 14

The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.

CVE-2026-5032 HIGH POC
7.5 Apr 02

W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress exposes security tokens to unauthenticated remote attackers through User-Agent heade

CVE-2019-6715 HIGH POC
7.5 Apr 01

pub/sns.php in the W3 Total Cache plugin before 0.9.4 for WordPress allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via

CVE-2014-9414 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Dec 24

The W3 Total Cache plugin before 0.9.4.1 for WordPress does not properly handle empty nonces, which allows remote attack

CVE-2021-24452 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Jul 19

The W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin before 2.1.5 was affected by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue within the

CVE-2021-24436 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Jul 19

The W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin before 2.1.4 was vulnerable to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) security vulne

CVE-2026-57623 CRITICAL
9.0 Jul 02

Unauthenticated arbitrary code execution affects the W3 Total Cache WordPress caching plugin in all versions up to and i

CVE-2021-24427 MEDIUM POC
4.8 Jul 12

The W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin before 2.1.3 did not sanitise or escape some of its CDN settings, allowing high priv

CVE-2014-8724 MEDIUM POC
4.3 Dec 19

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the W3 Total Cache plugin before 0.9.4.1 for WordPress, when debug mode is e

CVE-2026-87920 HIGH
7.2 Oct 02

Stored cross-site scripting in the W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress (all versions up to and including 2.10.6) lets un

CVE-2026-111254 HIGH
7.2 Oct 31

Stored cross-site scripting in the W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin, affecting all versions up to and including 2.10.7, a

CVE-2026-78438 HIGH
7.2 Sep 05

Stored Cross-Site Scripting in W3 Total Cache (WordPress plugin) versions up to and including 2.10.5 allows unauthentica

References

Advisories & patches

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