CVE-2023-0477Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated PHP upload via incorrect extension validation

Published Mar 13, 2023 · Updated Feb 27, 2025

Unrestricted file upload in Auto Featured Image before 3.9.16 allows remote authenticated users to place PHP files on WordPress servers. The upload_to_library AJAX action fetches an attacker-controlled image_url and accepts a PHP payload because its file-extension validation is incorrect. Author privileges, a valid nonce, and configured Google API fields are required; uploaded PHP content reaches the uploads directory, where execution depends on server configuration.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.65%
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 Auto Featured Image before 3.9.16 allows remote authenticated users to place PHP files on WordPress servers. The upload_to_library AJAX action fetches an attacker-controlled image_url and accepts a PHP payload because its file-extension validation is incorrect. Author privileges, a valid nonce, and configured Google API fields are required; uploaded PHP content reaches the uploads directory, where execution depends on server configuration.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0477
Published
Mar 13, 2023
Updated
Feb 27, 2025
Vendor
Query Solutions Ltd.
Product
Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail)
Classifications
CWE-434, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 27, 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 <3.9.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Query Solutions Ltd. · Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail)version=0 <3.9.16

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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
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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