# CVE-2022-40696: WordPress Advanced Custom Fields Plugin 3.1.1-6.0.2 is vulnerable to Sensitive Data Exposure

> An attacker can access sensitive information from the Advanced Custom Fields plugin without authorization, requiring an upgrade to secure the site.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 28 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vxh3-27qh-7gv3

## What is CVE-2022-40696?

CVE-2022-40696 is a low-severity vulnerability in WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), published on 8 Jan 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).This issue affects Advanced Custom Fields (ACF): from 3.1.1 through 6.0.2.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-40696?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Advancedcustomfields Advanced Custom Fields.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-40696?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-40696 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-40696 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-40696 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

- [CVE-2023-1196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1196/): Advanced Custom Fields - Contributor+ PHP Object Injection (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-2594](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2594/): Advanced Custom Fields 5.0-5.12.2 - Unauthenticated File Upload (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-4565](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4565/): Advanced Custom Fields < 6.3 - Contributor+ Custom Field Access (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2021-20865](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20865/): Missing authorization in Advanced Custom Fields and Advanced Custom Fields Pro (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-30777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-30777/): WordPress Advanced Custom Fields / Advanced Custom Fields PRO plugins <= 6.1.5 vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (high 7.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-40696 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-40696 is a low-severity vulnerability in WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), published on 8 Jan 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-40696 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields (ACF). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40696/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40696/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-40696
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-40696
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-40696

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40696/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.