W3 Total Cache Plugin Exposes Critical PHP Injection Flaw

W3 Total Cache WordPress Plugin Exposes PHP Command Injection Vulnerability

Last updated on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by RS Web Solutions on Categories WordPress

Critical Vulnerability Exposed in W3 Total Cache Plugin

A significant security vulnerability has been identified within the W3 Total Cache (W3TC) WordPress plugin, enabling potential exploiters to execute PHP commands on the server through the submission of a comment embedded with a malicious payload.

This vulnerability, referenced as CVE-2025-9501, impacts all prior versions of the W3TC plugin leading up to 2.8.13 and is characterized as an unauthenticated command injection vulnerability.

W3TC is widely utilized, currently installed on over one million websites to enhance performance and minimize loading times.

The developer has released version 2.8.13, which rectifies the security concern, on October 20. Nevertheless, according to data from WordPress.org, as many as 430,000 websites may still be at risk, given the volume of downloads since the patch’s dissemination.

WPScan, a WordPress security firm, elucidates that the CVE-2025-9501 vulnerability can be activated by attackers utilizing the _parse_dynamic_mfunc() function, which processes dynamic function calls within cached content.

“The [W3TC] plugin is vulnerable to command injection via the _parse_dynamic_mfunc function, permitting unauthenticated users to execute PHP commands by submitting a comment with a malicious payload to a post,” states WPScan.

An individual successfully exploiting this PHP code execution vulnerability could potentially seize complete control of the vulnerable WordPress site, executing any command on the server without the necessity for authentication.

WPScan researchers have crafted a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2025-9501 and plan to release it on November 24, allowing users ample time to implement the required updates.

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It is common for malicious exploitation of vulnerabilities to commence almost immediately once a proof-of-concept has been disclosed. Subsequently, attackers typically scour for possible targets to compromise.

Website administrators unable to upgrade by the stipulated deadline should contemplate either deactivating the W3 Total Cache plugin or taking appropriate measures to prevent comments from being utilized to deliver malicious payloads capable of triggering the exploit.

The advised action is to upgrade to W3 Total Cache version 2.8.13, which was released on October 20.

Source link: Bleepingcomputer.com.

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