CVE-2026-18051
Critical
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.
SeverityCritical
CVSS10.0
Exploit probability—
Product
W3 Total Cache
PublishedAug 19, 2026
First seenAug 19, 2026
Weakness typeCWE-22Path traversal
How to fix
Update
- W3 Total Cache2.10.5 or later
Affected products
| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| W3 Total Cache | v < 2.10.5 | 2.10.5 |
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