---
title: "CVE-2026-12227: Visual Composer Website Builder - Local File Inclusion"
description: "Visual Composer Website Builder for WordPress <= 45.16.0 contains a local file inclusion vulnerability caused by improper validation of the vcv-template parameter, letting unauthenticated attackers include and execute arbitrary files, exploit requires no authentication."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-12227/
---

# CVE-2026-12227 Visual Composer Website Builder - Local File Inclusion

Visual Composer Website Builder for WordPress <= 45.16.0 contains a local file inclusion vulnerability caused by improper validation of the vcv-template parameter, letting unauthenticated attackers include and execute arbitrary files, exploit requires no authentication.

CVSS base score 9.8 /10

Critical

CISA KEV

Exploited in the wild

Public exploit

Proof of concept available

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

2.87% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12227)

## Details

Type

Local File Inclusion

Impact

Remote Code Execution, Information Disclosure, Broken Access Control

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

24 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-98](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/98.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest version beyond 45.16.0.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12227](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12227)
- [https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3619572/](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3619572/)
- [https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/486c1c7c-5a66-42d3-85b0-13ce52a16ed1?source=cve](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/486c1c7c-5a66-42d3-85b0-13ce52a16ed1?source=cve)
- [https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/visualcomposer/visual-composer-website-builder-45160-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-via-vcv-template-parameter](https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/visualcomposer/visual-composer-website-builder-45160-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-via-vcv-template-parameter)
- [https://github.com/murrez/CVE-2026-12227](https://github.com/murrez/CVE-2026-12227)
- [https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/visualcomposer/vulnerability/wordpress-visual-composer-website-builder-plugin-45-16-0-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability](https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/visualcomposer/vulnerability/wordpress-visual-composer-website-builder-plugin-45-16-0-unauthenticated-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability)

[← All CVEs](https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/)

## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding.

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