Code Snippets <= 3.9.1 — Authenticated (Contributor+) PHP Code Injection via extract() and PHP Filter Chains

Am I affected?

• Check your version: in wp-admin go to Plugins → Installed Plugins and read the version under Code Snippets.
• No admin access? Run a passive check of your site. It reads public files only.

What to do

1. Update to version 3.9.2, or a newer patched version
2. Rotate administrator passwords and application secrets if the site ran a vulnerable version while publicly reachable.
3. Watch Code Snippets to get an email when the next vulnerability is published.

Advisory

Source description from Wordfence Intelligence, credited to Michael Mazzolini.

The Code Snippets plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Code Injection in all versions up to, and including, 3.9.1. This is due to the plugin's use of extract() on attacker-controlled shortcode attributes within the `evaluate_shortcode_from_flat_file` method, which can be used to overwrite the `$filepath` variable and subsequently passed to require_once. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server via the `[code_snippet]` shortcode using PHP filter chains granted they can trick an administrator into enabling the "Enable file-based execution" setting and creating at least one active Content snippet.

Exploits & references

Proof-of-concept & detection

No public proof-of-concept or detection template is known for this vulnerability.

Advisories & patches

• Advisorywordfence.com

Related CVEs

Timeline

1. Nov 18, 2025

   CVE published

   Severity high, CVSS 8.0

2. Nov 13, 2026

   Record last updated