What to Know:
– The Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) WordPress plugin has a vulnerability that affects over 2 million websites.
– The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected websites.
– The ACF team has released a patch to fix the vulnerability, but it may cause breaking changes for some websites.
– Website owners are advised to update to the latest version of the ACF plugin and review their code for any potential issues.
The Full Story:
The Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) WordPress plugin, which is used by over 2 million websites, has a vulnerability that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected websites. The vulnerability was discovered by the Wordfence Threat Intelligence team and reported to the ACF team, who promptly released a patch to fix the issue.
The vulnerability is caused by a lack of proper input sanitization in the ACF plugin. This allows attackers to inject malicious code into the affected websites, potentially leading to a complete compromise of the site. The ACF team has released version 5.9.5 of the plugin, which includes the necessary fixes to address the vulnerability.
However, website owners should be aware that updating to the latest version of the ACF plugin may cause breaking changes for some websites. This is because the patch includes changes to the way the plugin handles certain types of data. In particular, the patch modifies the way the plugin handles serialized data, which could potentially break existing functionality on some websites.
To mitigate the risk of breaking changes, website owners are advised to thoroughly test the updated version of the ACF plugin on a staging or development environment before applying it to their live websites. This will allow them to identify and address any compatibility issues before they affect the site’s functionality.
In addition to updating the ACF plugin, website owners should also review their code for any potential vulnerabilities. This includes checking for any instances where user input is not properly sanitized or validated, as these can be potential entry points for attackers. It is also recommended to implement additional security measures, such as using a web application firewall and regularly monitoring website logs for any suspicious activity.
The ACF team has provided detailed instructions on how to update the plugin and address any potential breaking changes on their website. They have also expressed their commitment to security and urged website owners to keep their plugins and themes up to date to ensure the security of their websites.
In conclusion, the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) WordPress plugin has a vulnerability that affects over 2 million websites. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected websites. The ACF team has released a patch to fix the vulnerability, but it may cause breaking changes for some websites. Website owners are advised to update to the latest version of the ACF plugin and review their code for any potential issues.
Original article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/acf-wordpress-plugin-vulnerability-affects-up-to-2-million-sites/505752/