CVE-2026-8996
What it is
The Backup and Staging by WP Time Capsule plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 1.22.26 via the download_recent_decrypted_file_wptc. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to extract download the most recently admin-decrypted SQL database backup, which typically contains password hashes, user credentials, and other sensitive site configuration data stored in the 'recent_decrypted_file' option. Exploitation requires that an administrator has previously performed a decrypt action, causing the decrypted SQL backup file to exist in the plugin's upload directory; without this prior admin action, there is no file to serve.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited over the network with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure.
- Exploit odds
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.5% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 6.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
- Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.5% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-862 · Missing authorization
- Record status
- Deferred
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 6.5
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-8996.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-8996. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-time-capsule/tags/1.22.26/Views/wptc-download-file.php#L23
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-time-capsule/tags/1.22.26/wp-time-capsule.php#L3764
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-time-capsule/tags/1.22.26/wp-time-capsule.php#L410
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-time-capsule/trunk/Views/wptc-download-file.php#L23
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-time-capsule/trunk/wp-time-capsule.php#L3764
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-time-capsule/trunk/wp-time-capsule.php#L410
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?reponame=&old=3563585%40wp-time-capsule&new=3563585%40wp-time-capsule
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f7c39d66-f1e1-4d41-a9e4-984aec3f37dc?source=cve