Reported vulnerability

Pods <= 3.3.9 - Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via Authorization Bypass to Admin Methods via 'pods_admin' AJAX Router

Q: Which versions of Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields are affected?

Wordfence lists these affected versions: From 2.8, through 2.8.23.3; From 2.9, through 2.9.19.3; From 3.0, through 3.0.10.3; From 3.1, through 3.1.4.1; From 3.2, through 3.2.8.2; From 3.3, through 3.3.9. Use the version checker above to compare your installed release with this report.

Q: Is a fix available for Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields?

Wordfence reports a fix for this issue in Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields. It lists these fixed versions: 2.8.23.4, 2.9.19.4, 3.0.10.4, 3.1.4.2, 3.2.8.3, 3.3.9.1. Back up your website and test the recommended update before applying it to your live site.

Q: Where can I find my installed plugin version?

In WordPress, open Plugins > Installed Plugins and find the version shown beneath the plugin name.

Published 15 Aug 2026

Updated 17 Aug 2026

CVE-2026-19598

Compare your installed software with the affected versions below. Follow the source’s remediation guidance and test an available update after taking a backup. A database entry describes a reported issue; it does not establish whether a particular website has been compromised.

Does this affect my version?

Check your installed version against this advisory. This compares the report’s version ranges and does not scan your website.

Wordfence advisory

critical · CVSS 9.8

The Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation via Authorization Bypass in all versions up to, and including, 3.3.9. The vulnerability exists because the pods_admin AJAX router funnels every access check — including the method allowlist, nonce verification, login enforcement, and capability gate — through pods_error(), which under the JSON meta-box-loader compatibility path only writes failures to the PHP error log and returns false instead of terminating the request, rendering all guards ineffective. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to escalate their privileges to Administrator or overwrite the password of any user account, including the site owner's, enabling complete site takeover, or perform another administrator action.

Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields

Software: plugin · pods
Affected versions: From 2.8, through 2.8.23.3; From 2.9, through 2.9.19.3; From 3.0, through 3.0.10.3; From 3.1, through 3.1.4.1; From 3.2, through 3.2.8.2; From 3.3, through 3.3.9
Fix availability: Fix available
Fixed versions: 2.8.23.4, 2.9.19.4, 3.0.10.4, 3.1.4.2, 3.2.8.3, 3.3.9.1

Recommended action

Update to one of the following versions, or a newer patched version: 2.8.23.4, 2.9.19.4, 3.0.10.4, 3.1.4.2, 3.2.8.3, 3.3.9.1

Further references (1)

wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/3628032a-3121-45a7-8a78-cfcd8ba6af2f?source=api-prod

Data sources and licences

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CVE Usage: MITRE hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®). Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.

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Source: Wordfence

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Questions about this vulnerability

Which versions of Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields are affected?

Wordfence lists these affected versions: From 2.8, through 2.8.23.3; From 2.9, through 2.9.19.3; From 3.0, through 3.0.10.3; From 3.1, through 3.1.4.1; From 3.2, through 3.2.8.2; From 3.3, through 3.3.9. Use the version checker above to compare your installed release with this report.

Is a fix available for Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields?

Wordfence reports a fix for this issue in Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields. It lists these fixed versions: 2.8.23.4, 2.9.19.4, 3.0.10.4, 3.1.4.2, 3.2.8.3, 3.3.9.1. Back up your website and test the recommended update before applying it to your live site.

Where can I find my installed plugin version?

In WordPress, open Plugins > Installed Plugins and find the version shown beneath the plugin name.

Does an affected version mean my website has been hacked?

An affected version means the installed release matches a vulnerability described in this report. It does not show whether anyone has exploited it on your website. The checker compares version numbers with stored reports; it does not inspect your website.

These reports cover at least one of the same plugins, themes or WordPress core. Check each report’s affected versions separately.

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