CVE-2023-1196Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Contributor-level object injection via custom-field deserialization

Published May 2, 2023 · Updated Jan 30, 2025

PHP object injection in WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields Free and Pro 5.x before 5.12.5 and 6.x before 6.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. The plugin unserializes a contributor-controlled custom-field value when post revisions are viewed, instantiating attacker-selected PHP objects. Contributor access is required, and file deletion, sensitive-data retrieval, or code execution also requires a suitable POP gadget from another installed plugin or theme.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.08%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

PHP object injection in WP Engine Advanced Custom Fields Free and Pro 5.x before 5.12.5 and 6.x before 6.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code. The plugin unserializes a contributor-controlled custom-field value when post revisions are viewed, instantiating attacker-selected PHP objects. Contributor access is required, and file deletion, sensitive-data retrieval, or code execution also requires a suitable POP gadget from another installed plugin or theme.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1196
Published
May 2, 2023
Updated
Jan 30, 2025
Vendor
WP Engine
Product
Advanced Custom Fields
Classifications
CWE-502, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 2, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 30, 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=5.0.0 <5.12.5
  2. Affected versionversion=6.0.0 <6.1.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

WP Engine · Advanced Custom Fieldsversion=5.0.0 <5.12.5; version=6.0.0 <6.1.0
WP Engine · Advanced Custom Fields PROversion=5.0.0 <5.12.5; version=6.0.0 <6.1.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8WordfenceCVSS: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-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
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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