CVE-2026-18051 evidence review
W3 Total Cache
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.
This record remains available for product and version identification, but it is not presented as a complete remediation procedure. Confirm the affected range and the supported fix in a direct vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Identify the product and installed version
Record whether W3 Total Cache is present, where it is installed, and which interfaces are exposed.
- Record the product name, package or appliance identifier, and installed version.
- Identify internet-facing, administrative, API, and internal access paths.
- Preserve the pre-change configuration and relevant service logs.
Compare the affected range
Use the current record as an identification aid: < 2.10.5. Resolve incomplete inventory results before deciding that an asset is unaffected.
Verify the authoritative remediation source
Open the linked source material and locate a direct vendor advisory for this CVE. Confirm the supported fixed release and product-specific update path before making a production change.
Operational boundary
This page does not replace the vendor advisory, support contract, change-management process, or recovery plan. Do not infer that an asset is unaffected from an incomplete inventory query or a missing fixed-version field.