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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2026-9197 nextendweb CVE debrief

The Smart Slider 3 plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Directory Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 3.5.1.36 via the replaceHTMLImage function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which can contain sensitive information.

Vendor
nextendweb
Product
Smart Slider 3
CVSS
MEDIUM 4.9
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-06-06
Original CVE updated
2026-07-23
Advisory published
2026-06-06
Advisory updated
2026-07-23

Who should care

Administrators of WordPress installations using the Smart Slider 3 plugin, especially those with versions up to 3.5.1.36, should be aware of this vulnerability.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by a Directory Traversal issue in the replaceHTMLImage function of the Smart Slider 3 plugin. This allows authenticated attackers with administrator-level access to read arbitrary files on the server.

Defensive priority

MEDIUM

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update the Smart Slider 3 plugin to a version beyond 3.5.1.36.
  • Restrict access to the plugin's functionality to prevent unauthorized use.
  • Monitor server logs for suspicious file access attempts.

Evidence notes

The vulnerability was reported by [email protected] and is documented in various references including CVE.org and NVD.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-9197 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-9197

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-9197 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-9197

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/smart-slider-3/trunk/Nextend/SmartSlider3/Application/Admin/Slider/ControllerSlider.php

    [email protected]

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/smart-slider-3/trunk/Nextend/SmartSlider3/BackupSlider/ExportSlider.php

    [email protected]

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/smart-slider-3/trunk/Nextend/SmartSlider3/BackupSlider/ExportSlider.php

    [email protected]

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.