JS Archive List <= 6.1.7 - Authenticated (Contributor+) PHP Object Injection via 'included' Shortcode Attribute
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 6.2.0
- Affected Plugin
- JS Archive List
- Affected Version
<= 6.1.7- CVSS
- 7.5High
- Weakness type
- CWE-502 · Deserialization of Untrusted Data
- CVE
CVE-2026-2020
At a glance
CVE-2026-2020 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in the JS Archive List WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 6.1.7. It carries a CVSS score of 7.5 (reachable over the network; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Contributor level or above. The issue is fixed in version 6.2.0; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed March 2026, reported by Athiwat Tiprasaharn (Jitlada).
Vulnerability Overview
The JS Archive List plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 6.1.7 via the 'included' shortcode attribute. This is due to the deserialization of untrusted input supplied via the 'included' parameter of the plugin's shortcode. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject a PHP Object. No known POP chain is present in the vulnerable software. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it could allow the attacker to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.
CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
JS Archive List <= 6.1.7 carries this weakness at included, and reaching it takes an account at Contributor level or above. Deserialization of untrusted data means the application reconstructs objects from input a caller controls, letting the attacker choose which classes get instantiated and what their properties hold.
A workable chain turns deserialization into file writes, deletions or code execution, depending on what the loaded classes do in their magic methods. For JS Archive List the fix is 6.2.0: builds <= 6.1.7 are affected, anything from 6.2.0 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 6.2.0, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
An attacker needs Contributor access first, so the firewall sees the attempt as traffic from a logged-in account: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. Classes like this one can leave something behind, so the staged malware scanner is the second half: it looks for dropped files and modified code rather than for the request that created them. None of that substitutes for the fix: JS Archive List 6.2.0 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Scanner
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in JS Archive List
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