# CVE-2026-1921: Loco Translate <= 2.8.2 - Authenticated (Translator+) Path Traversal to Limited File Read via 'ref' Parameter

> Authenticated attackers with Translator privileges can read arbitrary PHP, JS, JSON, and Twig files from the server filesystem via path traversal.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 May 2026
- **Updated:** 6 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hq6w-992m-rf4h

## What is CVE-2026-1921?

CVE-2026-1921 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in timwhitlock Loco Translate, published on 5 May 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-1921?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-1921?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-1921 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-1921 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-1921 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-1921 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-1921 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in timwhitlock Loco Translate, published on 5 May 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-1921 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: timwhitlock Loco Translate. 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-2026-1921/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-1921/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-1921
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1921
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-1921

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-1921/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.