CVE-2026-8713

What is known

The Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the maybe_delete_files function in all versions up to, and including, 3.15.3. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). The attack requires a published Avada form configured to save entries to the database; an unauthenticated attacker submits a path-traversal payload via the wp_ajax_nopriv_fusion_form_submit_ajax handler while also controlling the fusion_privacy_expiration_interval and privacy_expiration_action fields to force an immediate 'delete' cleanup, causing the planted entry to be automatically processed by the Fusion_Form_DB_Privacy shutdown-hook routine without any administrator interaction.

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-8713, a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.1) affecting the affected product, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether the affected product is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
• Reference
• Reference