Findings

Vulnerability · CVE-2026-18109

BoldGrid w3_total_cache Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

Published Aug 14, 2026 · corrected/updated Aug 14, 2026 · BoldGrid w3_total_cache · evidence confidence very high

The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Author Name in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This vulnerability is only exploitable when the Lazy Load Images feature of W3 Total Cache is enabled, as the unsafe re-emission occurs exclusively within the LazyLoad mutator's img tag rewriting step.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2026-18109 is a unknown public vulnerability record for BoldGrid w3_total_cache. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether BoldGrid w3_total_cache is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: BoldGrid w3_total_cache. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: EPSS 0.4%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, vulncheck_kev. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Confirmed in CISA KEV since Aug 14, 2026. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.

  • Patch and remediation

    Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Technology hubs

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Aug 14, 2026 · VulnCheck KEV

    Detected

    The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Author Name in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This vulnerability is only expl

  2. Aug 14, 2026 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.

Affected

  • vendor BoldGrid w3_total_cacheversion unspecified

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-18109

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-18109

    30-day exploitation probability 0.4%

    first.org
  • VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2026-18109

    The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Author Name in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arb

    vulncheck.com

References