Description

Unauthenticated Path Traversal in W3 Total Cache <= 2.10.2 versions.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-06T15:17:22.607Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-06T15:17:22.607Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An unauthenticated path traversal vulnerability exists in the W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 2.10.2 and prior. This security flaw allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to traverse the directory structure of the host server and potentially read arbitrary files accessible to the web server process. The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of the underlying system, as unauthorized entities can harvest sensitive configuration data, application source code, or system files without requiring any prior authentication or interaction from a privileged user. Exploitation of this flaw relies on improper neutralization of input containing special elements originating from directory traversal sequences, enabling unauthorized retrieval of resources outside the intended web root or application directory. Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of the W3 Total Cache product face immediate exposure to information disclosure vectors that could facilitate further targeted compromise of the hosting environment.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is rooted in insufficient input validation and sanitization within the W3 Total Cache codebase for versions <= 2.10.2. Specifically, user-supplied input utilized in file handling operations fails to adequately strip or neutralize directory traversal sequences such as dot-dot-slash ('../') patterns. This architectural weakness allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to manipulate file path parameters passed to the vulnerable component.\nThe attack flow begins when an HTTP request is crafted containing specially encoded or raw traversal sequences directed at the vulnerable endpoint within W3 Total Cache. Upon receipt, the application processes the malicious parameter without enforcing strict boundary checks or restricting file operations to a designated safe directory. Consequently, the underlying file system API resolves the relative path traversal sequences, translating the input into an absolute file path pointing outside the intended operational scope.\nNetwork exposure is inherent to the web application surface, as the vulnerable endpoint is accessible over standard HTTP/HTTPS protocols without requiring authentication or specific authorization privileges. The exploitation method allows the execution of arbitrary file read operations restricted only by the file system permissions assigned to the web server user account (e.g., www-data, apache, or IIS_IUSRS).\nPost-exploitation impact is primarily characterized by arbitrary file disclosure. Attackers can leverage this capability to read sensitive system configuration files, wp-config.php credentials, database connection strings, operating system password files (such as /etc/passwd), and other proprietary application data stored on the host. This extracted information can subsequently be utilized to escalate privileges, pivot to internal network segments, or execute secondary application-layer attacks."
}