Cyber Posture

CVE-2026-3243

High

Published: 08 April 2026

Published
08 April 2026
Modified
24 April 2026
KEV Added
—
Patch
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CVSS Score 8.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0022 44.6th percentile
Risk Priority 18 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Description

The Advanced Members for ACF plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the create_crop function in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.5. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with…

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Subscriber-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). The vulnerability was partially patched in version 1.2.5.

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Requires information input validation at system entry points, directly preventing path traversal exploits due to insufficient file path validation in the plugin's create_crop function.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Mandates timely identification, reporting, and correction of flaws like this arbitrary file deletion vulnerability through patching the affected plugin versions.

CM-5 Access Restrictions for Change good match
prevent

Restricts access to changes such as file deletions on system components, preventing authenticated low-privilege users from deleting arbitrary files like wp-config.php.

Security SummaryAI

CVE-2026-3243 is an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in the Advanced Members for ACF plugin for WordPress, caused by insufficient file path validation in the create_crop function. It affects all versions up to and including 1.2.5. The issue, published on 2026-04-08, carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and maps to CWE-22.

Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit the vulnerability over the network with low complexity. By targeting the flawed validation, they can delete arbitrary files on the server, potentially leading to remote code execution—for instance, by deleting critical files like wp-config.php.

The vulnerability was partially patched in version 1.2.5, as indicated by changesets in the plugin's Trac repository. References include code locations such as class-avatar.php lines 266 and 57 in tag 1.2.4, line 710 in trunk, and patch details in changesets 3479725 and 3492372.

Details

CWE(s)
CWE-22

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1070.004 File Deletion Stealth
Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of their intrusion activity.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

Vulnerability in public-facing WordPress plugin enables low-privilege authenticated exploitation (T1190) for arbitrary file deletion (T1070.004), facilitating privilege escalation via software vuln (T1068).

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

References