What the vulnerability does
01Description
The Boost plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in versions up to, and including, 2.0.3 via deserialization of untrusted input in the STYXKEY-BOOST_USER_LOCATION cookie. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject a PHP Object. No known POP chain is present in the vulnerable software, which means this vulnerability has no impact unless another plugin or theme containing a POP chain is installed on the site. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it may allow the attacker to perform actions like delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code depending on the POP chain present.
Explanation of Vulnerability in Simple Terms
02Summary
PixelYourSite Boost versions 2.0.3 and earlier contain a deserialization vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to run arbitrary code on the site. The vulnerability exists because the product deserializes untrusted data without proper validation. An attacker can exploit this remotely over the network without requiring user interaction or authentication.
What an attacker can do
03Attacker Capabilities
Run arbitrary code on the site and take full control of it.
Potential impact on your site
04Site Impact
Complete compromise of the site, including data theft, malware injection, and site defacement.
Conditions required to exploit
05Prerequisites
Network access to the site; no authentication or user interaction required.
Key dates
06Disclosure timeline
May 20, 2026
CVE published
May 20, 2026
Record updated
