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W3 Total Cache EUVDEUVD-2026-41365

| CVE-2026-57623 CRITICAL
Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input (CWE-1284)
2026-07-02 Patchstack GHSA-m2v8-v989-39q2
9.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Patchstack
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Identify WordPress site with W3 Total Cache ≤2.9.4
  2. Delivery
    Send crafted request with malformed quantity input
  3. Exploit
    Bypass improper input validation (CWE-1284)
  4. Execution
    Meet required high-complexity condition
  5. Persist
    Execute arbitrary code on server
  6. Impact
    Full site compromise across scope

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input size validation
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation targets the W3 Total Cache plugin (versions <= 2.9.4) and requires no authentication (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N) over the network (AV:N), so any internet-reachable WordPress site with the vulnerable plugin active is exposed. The key limiting factor is the high attack complexity (AC:H): the attacker must satisfy a specific, hard-to-control condition tied to the improper input-quantity validation (CWE-1284) - such as precise input state or timing - rather than a single trivially repeatable request, which constrains reliable exploitation. Exploitation is further gated on the plugin being installed and active at version 2.9.4 or below; the exact code path and any feature/configuration requirement are not detailed in the available data and should be confirmed via the Patchstack advisory.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H yields a base score of 9.0 (Critical): network-reachable, no privileges, no user interaction, full confidentiality/integrity/availability impact, and a changed scope. The mitigating signal is AC:H - successful exploitation requires the attacker to win a specific, non-trivial condition (e.g., a race, precise timing, or a particular input state), which lowers the practical reliability of exploitation compared with an AC:L RCE. No EPSS score, no CISA KEV entry, and no POC were provided, so there is currently no evidence of active exploitation and no public exploit identified at time of analysis; the risk is driven by the plugin's very large install base rather than by confirmed in-the-wild activity. Net assessment: a genuine high priority given unauthenticated network RCE in ubiquitous software, but the attack-complexity qualifier means it may favor determined/targeted attackers over trivial mass exploitation until (and unless) a reliable exploit emerges. Data gap: no exact affected-version floor, patched version, or advisory detail beyond the Patchstack reference is available, so remediation specifics must be confirmed with the vendor.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote, unauthenticated attacker sends specially crafted requests to a WordPress site running W3 Total Cache 2.9.4 or earlier, supplying malformed quantity/size input that the plugin fails to validate, and triggers the specific condition needed to coerce the plugin into executing attacker-controlled code - giving full control of the site. No POC has been published, and the AC:H rating means the attacker must reliably hit the required precondition, so an automated exploit would likely need tuning against the target environment.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
No patch listed yet 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 02, 2026

Unauthenticated arbitrary code execution affects the W3 Total Cache WordPress caching plugin in all versions up to and including 2.9.4, allowing remote attackers to execute code and fully compromise the underlying site without credentials or user interaction. The scope-changing CVSS 9.0 (Critical) rating reflects the plugin's deep hooks into WordPress request handling. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no CISA KEV listing, though the high exploitability of a widely deployed plugin makes it a strong patching priority.

RemediationAI

No vendor-released patch version was identified in the provided data; upgrade to the first W3 Total Cache release above 2.9.4 as published by the vendor once confirmed, and consult the Patchstack advisory (https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/w3-total-cache/vulnerability/wordpress-w3-total-cache-plugin-2-9-4-arbitrary-code-execution-vulnerability?_s_id=cve) for the exact fixed version before deploying. Until a confirmed patched version is available, the most effective compensating control is to deactivate and remove the W3 Total Cache plugin, which stops the vulnerable code path entirely at the cost of losing caching performance; where the plugin cannot be removed, place the WordPress site behind a WAF with virtual-patching rules for this vulnerability and restrict/monitor requests to the plugin's endpoints, accepting that WAF signatures may lag and can be bypassed. Because exploitation is unauthenticated and network-facing, also rotate secrets and review the site for signs of compromise if the plugin has been internet-exposed.

Affected VersionsENISA

W3 Total Cache n/a ≤2.9.4

Affected Packages

euvd w3_total_cache no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

W3 Total Cache (vendor CPE cpe:2.3:a:boldgrid:w3_total_cache) is one of the most widely installed WordPress performance plugins, providing page, object, database, browser, and CDN caching by intercepting and rewriting request/response handling at the application layer. The root cause is classed as CWE-1284 (Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input), meaning a size, count, or index value supplied in input is not properly validated before use; when combined with the plugin's code-generation and caching internals this improper input validation escalates to arbitrary code execution. Because caching plugins operate early in and across the WordPress request lifecycle, a flaw here can affect the whole site rather than a single component, consistent with the CVSS scope-changed (S:C) designation.

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Severity by source

Vendor (Patchstack) PRIMARY 9.0 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 9.0 CRITICAL

Unauthenticated network RCE (AV:N/PR:N/UI:N) with full impact and scope change; AC:H retained because a specific input-validation condition must be met.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Patchstack).

CVSS VectorVendor: Patchstack

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

DescriptionCVE.org

Unauthenticated Arbitrary Code Execution in W3 Total Cache <= 2.9.4 versions.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The W3 Total Cache WordPress caching plugin (versions ≤2.9.4) is vulnerable to unauthenticated remote code execution (CVSS 9.0) that allows attackers to fully compromise any affected WordPress site without credentials or user interaction. With no vendor patch currently available and the plugin widely deployed, this represents an immediate risk to organizational data, system availability, and compliance posture for any entity running affected WordPress instances.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Immediately disable W3 Total Cache plugin on all affected WordPress instances pending patch availability. Deploy Web Application Firewall rules to detect and block exploitation attempts. Restrict network access to WordPress administrative endpoints. Implement file integrity monitoring on WordPress core and plugin directories. Enable comprehensive audit logging for all plugin-related activity and authentication events. Consider temporary deployment of alternative caching solutions to maintain performance while plugin remains disabled.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 75% exploitable
Prevalence
High
W3 Total Cache is among the most-installed WordPress caching plugins, millions of sites
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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 CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
Very High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +45
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

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