CVE-2026-85000: EmbedPress < 4.6.8 - Unauthenticated YouTube API Quota Consumption and Database Bloating
The EmbedPress WordPress plugin before 4.6.8 does not perform any capability or nonce check on an unauthenticated request that triggers a server-side, credential-bearing request to a third-party API and stores attacker-controlled cache entries, allowing unauthenticated attackers to consume the site owner's third-party API quota and write unbounded records into the site's database.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can exploit this issue?
Any unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger the vulnerable request. No WordPress account, capability, or nonce is required.
What resources can be affected by exploitation?
An attacker can cause server-side requests using the site owner's third-party API credentials, consuming that API's quota. They can also create unbounded attacker-controlled cache records in the WordPress database, potentially increasing database storage and maintenance impact.
Which installations are affected?
EmbedPress versions before 4.6.8 are affected. The issue is reachable through an unauthenticated request, so sites do not need to expose authenticated administration functionality for exploitation.
How can administrators reduce exposure before updating?
The provided information does not identify a configuration workaround. Prioritize updating EmbedPress to 4.6.8 or later; if immediate updating is not possible, monitor third-party API quota usage and database growth for unexpected activity.