CVE-2023-0255Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Author-level code execution via unrestricted replacement upload

Published Feb 13, 2023 · Updated Mar 21, 2025

Unrestricted file upload in ShortPixel Enable Media Replace before 4.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code. The media replacement handler accepts a multipart userfile named with a .php extension and writes it into the web-accessible WordPress uploads directory without rejecting the dangerous type. Author-level access to Replace Media is sufficient to place and request a PHP shell, granting code execution in the web server context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unrestricted file upload in ShortPixel Enable Media Replace before 4.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code. The media replacement handler accepts a multipart userfile named with a .php extension and writes it into the web-accessible WordPress uploads directory without rejecting the dangerous type. Author-level access to Replace Media is sufficient to place and request a PHP shell, granting code execution in the web server context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0255
Published
Feb 13, 2023
Updated
Mar 21, 2025
Vendor
ShortPixel
Product
Enable Media Replace
Classifications
CWE-434, CAPEC-1, T1505.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <4.0.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ShortPixel · Enable Media Replaceversion=0 <4.0.2

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
CAPEC-1Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs
T1505.003Server Software Component Web Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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