Path Traversal in Timwhitlock Loco Translate
CVE-2026-1921
The Loco Translate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.2 via the `fsReference` AJAX route. This is due to the `findSourceFile()` method normalizing user-supplied `ref` paths containing `../` directory traversal sequences without validating that the resolved path remains within the intended bundle or content directory. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Translator-level access and above (custom `loco_admin` capability required, granted to the `translator` role and administrators by default), to read arbitrary `.php`, `.js`, `.json`, and `.twig` files from the server filesystem outside the intended translation directory. Files named wp-config.php are excluded.
Vulnerability class: Path Traversal (Directory Traversal)
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 4.9 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.006 (48.6th percentile), scored .
Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 49th percentile — 48.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.006 · newest: 0.006 · change: 0.000
Affected products
- Timwhitlock Loco Translate — versions 0
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f9ff3058-a08c-40ed-b756-81e70…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/loco-translate/tags/2.8.1/src/ajax/FsReferen…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/loco-translate/trunk/src/ajax/FsReferenceCon…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/loco-translate/tags/2.8.1/src/ajax/FsReferen…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/loco-translate/trunk/src/ajax/FsReferenceCon…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3482475/loco-translate/trunk/tpl/admin/con…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-1921?
- CVE-2026-1921 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Timwhitlock Loco Translate, classified under Path Traversal. CVSS score: 4.9/10. Published 2026-05-05.
- How severe is CVE-2026-1921?
- Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 4.9 out of 10.