Advanced Responsive Video Embedder for Rumble…: Embedded Malicious Code
CVE-2026-18072 is a critical-severity embedded malicious code vulnerability in Advanced Responsive Video Embedder for Rumble, Odysee, YouTube, Vimeo, Kick … from Nico23, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Advanced Responsive Video Embedder for Rumble, Odysee, YouTube, Vimeo, Kick … versions: 10.8.7. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.98% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 88% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of Advanced Responsive Video Embedder for Rumble, Odysee, YouTube, Vimeo, Kick … you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nico23 | Advanced Responsive Video Embedder for Rumble, Odysee, YouTube, Vimeo, Kick … | 10.8.7 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (wordfence.com).
Official description
The Advanced Responsive Video Embedder for Rumble, Odysee, YouTube, Vimeo, Kick … plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass via a Hardcoded Backdoor in version 10.8.7. The vulnerability exists because the `_arve_uc_init()` function — registered on WordPress's `init` hook at priority 1 so that it runs before any authentication checks on every request — reads an attacker-supplied token from the `_wplogin` (or `_wpm`) parameter and compares it against a hardcoded SHA-256 hash embedded directly in the plugin source, with no nonce verification, no capability check, and no password validation anywhere in the flow. Because this static hash constitutes a set of universal credentials that are publicly accessible in the plugin's source code, unauthenticated attackers can supply the known token to be authenticated as an arbitrarily selected existing administrator account, gaining full administrative control over the affected WordPress site. This was likely introduced by an attacker who gained commit access to the developers account.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Embedded Malicious Code
The product contains code that appears to be malicious in nature.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Remove the malicious code and start an effort to ensure that no more malicious code exists. This may require a detailed review of all code, as it is possible to hide a serious attack in only one or two lines of code. These lines may be located almost anywhere in an application and may have been intentionally obfuscated by the attacker.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/advanced-responsive-video-embedder/tags/10.8.7/advanced-responsive-video-e…
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/advanced-responsive-video-embedder/tags/10.8.7/php/fn-update-check.php#L24
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/advanced-responsive-video-embedder/tags/10.8.7/php/fn-update-check.php#L33
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/advanced-responsive-video-embedder/tags/10.8.7/php/fn-update-check.php#L52
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/70f64ea0-5375-479f-90ac-29bcdf817cef?source=cve
Recent Embedded Malicious Code vulnerabilities
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