WordPress Plugin Word Count and Social Shares File Deletion Vulnerability

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-11563 is a critical vulnerability in the Word Count and Social Shares WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to 1.0.

The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not properly validate user-supplied file paths before deletion. It also lacks proper authorization checks and CSRF protections. This allows any authenticated user, including those with minimal privileges like a Subscriber, to delete arbitrary files on the server.

If critical files such as wp-config.php are deleted, this can lead to a full site takeover. The vulnerability is classified as critical with a CVSS score of 9.6.

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Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability on your system involves checking for the presence of the vulnerable Word Count and Social Shares WordPress plugin and verifying its version. Since the vulnerability affects versions up to 1.0, any installation of this plugin with a version 1.0 or earlier is at risk.

• Check if the plugin is installed on your WordPress site by navigating to the WordPress admin dashboard, then go to 'Plugins' and look for 'Word Count and Social Shares'. Note the version number.
• Alternatively, you can manually inspect the plugin directory on your server. Run the following command to list the plugin directory and check for the plugin's presence and version: ls -la /path/to/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/word-count-and-social-shares/
• Review the plugin's files, particularly those handling file deletion functionality, to look for improper validation or authorization checks. However, this requires code-level expertise.
• Use a vulnerability scanner like WPScan to detect the vulnerability. Run the following command: wpscan --url your-wordpress-site.com --enumerate vp

Monitor your server logs for unusual file deletion requests, especially those targeting critical files like wp-config.php. Look for HTTP requests to the plugin's endpoints that include file deletion parameters.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can have severe impacts if exploited:

• Full site takeover: An attacker could delete critical files like wp-config.php, leading to complete control over your WordPress site.
• Data loss: Arbitrary file deletion could result in the loss of important data or configurations.
• Service disruption: Deleting essential files may cause your website to become unavailable or malfunction.
• Reputation damage: A compromised site can harm your reputation with users and customers.

Since the vulnerability can be exploited by any authenticated user, even those with minimal access, the risk is significantly heightened.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability can impact compliance with several standards and regulations:

• GDPR: If the vulnerability leads to unauthorized access or deletion of personal data, it could violate GDPR requirements for data protection and security. This may result in fines or legal consequences.
• HIPAA: For organizations handling protected health information (PHI), a site takeover or data loss could lead to unauthorized disclosure of PHI, violating HIPAA's security and privacy rules.
• PCI DSS: If the affected site processes payment information, a compromise could violate PCI DSS requirements for securing cardholder data, leading to penalties or loss of payment processing capabilities.

Failure to address this vulnerability could result in non-compliance with these regulations, potentially leading to legal, financial, or operational consequences.

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Mitigation Strategies

Since there is no known fix available for this vulnerability as of now, immediate steps should focus on reducing exposure and preventing exploitation.

• Deactivate and delete the Word Count and Social Shares plugin from your WordPress site immediately. This is the most effective way to prevent exploitation.
• Restrict access to the WordPress admin dashboard to trusted users only. Limit the number of users with Subscriber roles or higher, as the vulnerability can be exploited by any authenticated user.
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block malicious requests targeting the plugin's file deletion functionality. Configure rules to detect and block path traversal or unauthorized file deletion attempts.
• Regularly back up your WordPress site, including the wp-config.php file and other critical files, to ensure you can restore your site if files are deleted maliciously.
• Monitor your WordPress site for any unauthorized changes or file deletions. Set up alerts for unusual activity, such as modifications to critical files.
• Keep an eye on updates from the plugin developer or WordPress security advisories for a patch. Once a fix is released, update the plugin immediately.

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