# CVE-2023-5359: W3 Total Cache <= 2.7.5 - Sensitive Credentials Stored in Plaintext

> Unauthenticated attackers can read plaintext Google OAuth secrets from the plugin source to impersonate the service and access user account information.

- **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:** 24 Sep 2024
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8w9v-r586-45j6

## What is CVE-2023-5359?

CVE-2023-5359 is a low-severity vulnerability in boldgrid W3 Total Cache, published on 24 Sep 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The W3 Total Cache plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in versions up to, and including, 2.7.5 via Google OAuth API secrets stored in plaintext in the publicly visible plugin source. This can allow unauthenticated attackers to impersonate W3 Total Cache and gain access to user account information in successful conditions. This would not impact the WordPress users site in any way.

Weakness: CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information), CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-5359?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Boldgrid W3 Total Cache.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-5359?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-5359 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-5359 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-5359 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Targets versions ≤2.7.5 vulnerable to CVE-2023-5359 (github_poc): https://github.com/spyata123/Cleartext-Storage-vulnerability-CVE-2023-5359-in-W3-Total-Cache
- CVE-2023-5359 - W3 Total Cache Cleartext Storage Vulnerability Scanner. Detect exposed credentials in W3 Total Cache plugin versions ≤ 2.7.5. (github_poc): https://github.com/enzocipher/CVE-2023-5359

## Other vulnerabilities in boldgrid W3 Total Cache

- [CVE-2024-12365](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12365/): W3 Total Cache <= 2.8.1 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Missing Authorization to Server-Side Request Forgery (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2012-6077](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6077/): Information disclosure in Total Cache (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2012-6078](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6078/): Information disclosure in Total Cache (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2012-6079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6079/): Information disclosure in Total Cache (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-6715](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6715/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-5359 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-5359 is a low-severity vulnerability in boldgrid W3 Total Cache, published on 24 Sep 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-2023-5359 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: boldgrid W3 Total Cache. 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-2023-5359/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5359/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-5359
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5359
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-5359

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5359/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.