CVE-2023-0340Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Contributor-level file inclusion via unvalidated template path

Published Mar 20, 2023 · Updated Feb 26, 2025

Path traversal in Eliot Akira Custom Content Shortcode 4.0.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to include arbitrary server files. The comment shortcode passes its unvalidated template attribute to file inclusion, so ../ sequences escape the intended template directory and expose non-PHP file contents. Contributor access is sufficient for file reads; code execution additionally requires upload access and a server-executable file, which WordPress grants to Authors by default.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.05%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Eliot Akira Custom Content Shortcode 4.0.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to include arbitrary server files. The comment shortcode passes its unvalidated template attribute to file inclusion, so ../ sequences escape the intended template directory and expose non-PHP file contents. Contributor access is sufficient for file reads; code execution additionally requires upload access and a server-executable file, which WordPress grants to Authors by default.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0340
Published
Mar 20, 2023
Updated
Feb 26, 2025
Vendor
Eliot Akira
Product
Custom Content Shortcode
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 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?

Eliot Akira · Custom Content Shortcodeversion=0 <=4.0.2

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NVDCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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