Topic
WordPress
WordPress 7.1.3 Security Release Fixes Seven Vulnerabilities Including Stored XSS and SQL Injection
Vulnerabilities & Exploits
Top Cybersecurity Stories: SharePoint Exploits Warned by US Authorities, Citrix and WordPress Flaws Lead Weekly Rankings
Vulnerabilities & Exploits
SC Malware on WordPress Restores Deleted Backdoors in Seconds via Eight Persistence Points
Malware & BotnetsFundamental Flaw in File Monitoring APIs Exposes Keystrokes and App Activity Across Windows, Linux, Android, and macOS
Researchers from Graz University of Technology demonstrated how built-in file change notification mechanisms can leak sensitive user activity without requiring elevated privileges. The affected subsystems include inotify on Linux, FileObserver on Android, ReadDirectoryChangesW on Windows, and FSEvents on macOS. On Linux the technique enables reconstruction of typed text with 93-100% accuracy by monitoring /dev/input/event4 timestamps. Android apps can break sandbox isolation to observe messaging events, while Windows monitoring of browser cache files reveals visited websites at 97.8% accuracy. Only partial mitigations have been deployed in Linux and Windows, with no fixes available for Android or macOS. Additional attacks remain possible, including detection of password prompts to facilitate phishing overlays.
CSRF Flaw in Elementor Allows Admin Account Creation on Over 2 Million WordPress Sites
A critical CSRF vulnerability has been identified in the Elementor page builder plugin for WordPress, affecting versions 4.3.0 and 4.3.1. The issue enables attackers to create administrator accounts on target sites by exploiting improper handling of CSRF protections in the Editor Events module. With a CVSS score of 8.8, the flaw impacts more than 2 million installations out of over 10 million total WordPress sites using the plugin. No CVE identifier had been assigned at the time of disclosure on September 26. The vulnerability was fixed in version 4.3.2, and users are urged to update immediately. The discovery is credited to researcher Saggre following responsible disclosure, with no public records of active exploitation noted at the time of analysis.
WordPress Issues Critical Security Update 7.1.2 Five Days After Previous Patch
WordPress has released version 7.1.2 to fix a new critical vulnerability that was not addressed in the 7.1.1 update issued just five days earlier. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-87902, is a path traversal issue rated Critical that can be exploited without authentication. It resides in the page template resolution process and allows execution of arbitrary local PHP files located outside the theme directory, provided certain conditions such as the presence of a page- prefixed directory in the parent or child theme are met. The update was published on September 22, 2026, and affects the prior release from September 17. Administrators are urged to apply the patch immediately to prevent potential remote code execution.
WordPress Click2Shell Flaw Chain Lets Attackers Achieve RCE via Single Admin Click
Researchers discovered a chain of vulnerabilities in WordPress core named Click2Shell that enables remote code execution without attacker authentication. The attack requires only that a logged-in administrator opens a specially crafted preview link, after which the interface automatically installs a malicious theme. Researcher Paulos Yibelo from pwn.ai found that inconsistent parameter handling between the theme directory API and browser JavaScript allowed the crafted URL to trigger installation without user interaction. A second vulnerable component, the Mobile Repair Zone 2.5.4 theme from the official directory, was used to load arbitrary PHP code and abuse an insecure AJAX handler for plugin installation. Successful exploitation grants full access to wp-config.php, database credentials, file modification rights, and the ability to create new administrators. WordPress addressed the issue in version 6.7.1 and backported fixes to supported branches, while the constant DISALLOW_FILE_MODS offers temporary mitigation by blocking theme and plugin changes.
Click2Shell Flaw in WordPress Core Enables Remote Code Execution via Single Malicious Link
Researchers at pwn.ai have disclosed Click2Shell, a vulnerability in the WordPress core that allows an attacker to install a malicious theme and achieve remote code execution simply by tricking an authenticated administrator into opening a crafted link. The isolated flaw carries a CVSS score of 7.1, but the full attack chain reaches 9.6. The issue stems from an interpretation mismatch between the WordPress.org theme directory and the administrator browser, causing the browser to automatically trigger the install button without any user confirmation or password prompt. Affected versions start from 6.0 and run up to but not including 7.1.1. The vulnerability has been fixed in WordPress 7.1.1 with backported patches released for all supported branches down to version 4.7. No exploitation in the wild had been observed at the time of disclosure, yet the low barrier of convincing an admin to click a link makes prompt patching essential.
Critical Unauthenticated File Upload Flaw in WooCommerce Wholesale Lead Capture Enables Active PHP Web Shell Attacks
A critical vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-27540 affects WooCommerce Wholesale Lead Capture versions 2.0.3.1 and earlier, allowing unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files including PHP web shells. The flaw resides in the wwlc_file_upload_handler AJAX action, where the file extension allowlist can be manipulated through the file_settings parameter to accept .php files. Exploitation has been observed in the wild with more than 100,000 blocked attempts since June 2026, including sustained campaigns from repeat IP addresses. The developer released version 2.0.3.2 on 20 February 2026 to address the issue, yet many sites remain unpatched. Organizations are advised to update immediately, audit wp-content/uploads for unexpected PHP files, and monitor admin-ajax.php requests for suspicious activity. In confirmed compromise cases, full remediation requires credential rotation and restoration from verified backups.
WordPress to Automatically Block High-Risk Plugin Updates Before Distribution
WordPress is introducing an automated security screening process for every new plugin release before it reaches millions of sites through the WordPress.org API. Updates flagged with high risk will be blocked from automatic installation, giving developers time to address issues. Previously, only initial plugin submissions were reviewed, while subsequent versions could introduce vulnerabilities, backdoors, or malicious ownership changes without checks. Each release now undergoes a six-hour delay under the Protect The Shire initiative, where multiple AI models and Jetpack Scan analyze changes to produce a combined risk score. High-risk updates are withheld from auto-updates, and developers receive detailed reports. The system has already proven effective by catching a backdoor in a plugin with around 20,000 active installations on July 28, preventing distribution after Wordfence notification. Developers can fix problems and resubmit, or appeal results, though fixing is usually faster than manual review.
Corporate Boomerang: WordPress Founder Matt Mullenweg Survives Board Coup at Automattic
Automattic experienced a rapid corporate power struggle when its board placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on forced paid leave. Within two days Mullenweg regained control by leveraging his shareholder voting rights and removed opposing administrators from the company Slack. The original board members who supported his ouster are now departing the company. The brief conflict highlighted how corporate governance rules allowed shareholders to ultimately determine board composition. Mullenweg described his restored position as that of a pirate before announcing renewed alignment with the board. Public support from WordPress leadership helped solidify his return to leadership.
Hashcat Password Cracking: Why Complex Passwords Like Summer2026! Often Fail First
Password cracking tools such as hashcat and John the Ripper exploit predictable human patterns when generating candidates, allowing structured passwords to be recovered faster than truly random strings. The process relies on comparing computed hashes against stored values without needing to reverse the one-way function. Modern password storage uses salted, computationally expensive algorithms including bcrypt, Argon2id, sha512crypt and yescrypt to increase the cost of each guess. Different formats require specific hashcat modes, and parameters such as cost factors or memory settings directly affect cracking speed. WordPress 6.8 introduced bcrypt with SHA-384 preprocessing while older phpass records remain supported. Audits must preserve full hash records, verify modes on test data, and combine dictionaries, rules, masks and statistical models to measure real risk. After testing, organizations should migrate to properly tuned Argon2id and enforce long unique passphrases managed by password managers.
Critical Unauthenticated File Upload Flaw in Elementor Pro Allows Remote Code Execution on WordPress Sites
A critical vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-32475 has been discovered in the Elementor Pro plugin for WordPress, enabling unauthenticated attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code. The flaw resides in the file upload module where validation and saving processes handle empty filenames inconsistently across multipart requests. Attackers can bypass checks by sending one part with an empty filename and another containing a PHP backdoor, which gets stored in the publicly accessible wp-content/uploads/elementor/forms/ directory. Exploitation requires a published Elementor Pro form with the multiple-file upload option enabled, a setting that is disabled by default. The free version of Elementor remains unaffected, while the issue was resolved in Elementor Pro 4.2.2. Administrators are urged to update immediately and scan upload directories for unauthorized PHP files, as no active exploitation has been observed yet but public disclosure increases the risk.
Critical Vulnerability in Forminator Forms WordPress Plugin Enables Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution
A critical vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-15748 with a CVSS score of 9.8 has been identified in the Forminator Forms plugin for WordPress. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to upload malicious PHP files by manipulating the Select field alongside a File Upload field on published forms. This bypasses extension blocking and file type validation, potentially leading to full server compromise including web shell installation and database access. The plugin, which has more than 600,000 active installations, is affected in all versions up to and including 1.56.1. The issue was resolved in version 1.56.2 released at the end of July, with later updates including 1.57.0 now available.
Top Cybersecurity Stories of the Week: WordPress XSS Flaw, Microsoft Patch Tuesday, Cisco Zero-Day and More
Security NEXT has published its weekly ranking of the most viewed articles between August 9 and August 15 2026. The list is dominated by critical vulnerabilities affecting widely deployed platforms including WordPress, Microsoft products, Cisco networking gear and Fortinet FortiOS. A cross-site scripting issue in the WordPress login screen and a remote code execution flaw in WordPress 7.0.4 both received immediate patches. Microsoft released updates addressing more than 400 vulnerabilities, while Cisco disclosed a zero-day denial-of-service flaw in its SSL VPN implementation. Additional high-impact issues were reported in FortiOS, Google Chrome, Zoom and Jenkins, prompting urgent remediation guidance from vendors.
WordPress 7.0.4 Released to Patch High-Severity RCE Vulnerability CVE-2026-65640
The WordPress development team has issued version 7.0.4 to address a remote code execution vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-65640. The flaw affects installations that use the Imagick and Ghostscript image-processing components and grants code execution to users with Author privileges or higher. An attacker can upload a specially crafted PostScript file to trigger arbitrary code execution on the server. The vulnerability received a CVSS v3.0 base score of 8.8 and is rated High severity. Administrators are urged to update immediately, either manually through the dashboard or via automatic background updates. Backported fixes for the 4.7 branch are also in preparation and will be released soon.
WordPress Patches High-Severity XSS2Shell Flaw Enabling Remote Code Execution (CVE-2026-64638)
WordPress has released a fix for a high-severity vulnerability in its core that can turn a malicious login attempt into remote PHP code execution on the server. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-64638 and rated 8.9 on CVSS, is named XSS2Shell and begins as a reflected cross-site scripting issue on the authentication screen. An unauthenticated attacker can submit a specially crafted username that bypasses sanitization mechanisms due to differences in how PHP and WordPress interpret certain characters, allowing controlled HTML elements to be injected into the login page. This leads to JavaScript execution in the site domain, and when an authenticated administrator visits a prepared page, the attacker can abuse the existing session to authorize application credentials and upload arbitrary PHP code. The patch is included in WordPress 7.0.3 released on August 6, with backports available for branches as old as 4.7. No public exploitation has been confirmed yet, but the technical details make immediate updating a priority for site administrators.
Top 10 Security Stories: WordPress XSS Flaw, PHP Vulnerabilities, and VMware ESX Issues Lead Weekly Roundup
Security NEXT has published its weekly ranking of the most viewed articles for the period from August 2 to August 8, 2026. The list highlights critical vulnerabilities affecting widely used platforms including WordPress, PHP, pgAdmin 4, VMware ESX, and Chrome. Several entries focus on newly released security updates and ongoing exploitation warnings issued by US authorities. The ranking also includes real-world incidents such as credit card skimming by employees and data leaks caused by phishing attacks. This weekly overview reflects the topics that drew the highest attention from the Japanese cybersecurity community during the specified week.
WordPress 7.0.3 Addresses 12 Vulnerabilities Including Reflected XSS Leading to PHP Execution
WordPress has released version 7.0.3 to fix multiple security issues discovered in the content management system. The update, announced on August 6, 2026, resolves 12 vulnerabilities covering cross-site scripting, privilege escalation, information disclosure, and server-side request forgery. One issue tracked as CVE-2026-64638 is a reflected XSS flaw on the login page that can be exploited without authentication. Under specific conditions the vulnerability allows an attacker to execute PHP code on the affected site. The flaw received a CVSS v4.0 base score of 8.9 and is rated High severity. Administrators are urged to apply the update immediately.
Distributed Crawler Poses as Human Visitor to Evade Analytics and Ad Filters
A detailed investigation revealed a sophisticated distributed crawler that successfully mimicked legitimate human browsing behavior across multiple unrelated websites. The crawler generated realistic events in Google Analytics while avoiding ad script loading and resource chains that would confirm genuine user sessions. Server logs showed consistent patterns of fake search engine referrers, internal navigation with fabricated Referer headers, and selective requests limited mostly to images returning 404 errors. Analysts built a graph-based detection system that correlated events across sites to expose the coordinated activity despite individual requests appearing benign. The campaign rotated browser signatures and IP addresses frequently, making single-site rate limiting ineffective. The case demonstrates how modern crawlers can exploit Measurement Protocol and incomplete bot detection to consume server resources without contributing to revenue.
WordPress Releases Security Update Fixing Two Vulnerabilities That Chain to Remote Code Execution
The WordPress development team has issued version 7.0.2 along with other security releases on July 17, 2026, addressing two critical vulnerabilities identified as CVE-2026-63030 and CVE-2026-60137. When combined, these flaws enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations. CVE-2026-60137 stems from insufficient input validation in certain functions, potentially allowing SQL injection when processing untrusted data from plugins or themes. CVE-2026-63030 involves route interpretation confusion in the REST API batch endpoint, which can be leveraged alongside the SQL injection issue to achieve code execution. The vulnerabilities impact WordPress 6.8 and later branches, although chained attacks are not possible on the 6.8 series. Administrators are urged to apply the updates immediately to mitigate the risks.