Low-privilege PHP execution via forged admin request
Published Apr 23, 2023 · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Cross-site request forgery in Nicolas Zeh PHP Execution 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to enable low-privilege PHP execution. The php_execution_admin.php function accepts a settings-changing request without validating a WordPress nonce, allowing a forged request to enable PHP execution for lower-privileged accounts. Exploitation requires a logged-in administrator to follow an attacker-controlled link or submit a crafted form; the resulting setting lets low-privilege users execute PHP code.
Summary
What happened
Cross-site request forgery in Nicolas Zeh PHP Execution 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to enable low-privilege PHP execution. The php_execution_admin.php function accepts a settings-changing request without validating a WordPress nonce, allowing a forged request to enable PHP execution for lower-privileged accounts. Exploitation requires a logged-in administrator to follow an attacker-controlled link or submit a crafted form; the resulting setting lets low-privilege users execute PHP code.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-23879
- Published
- Apr 23, 2023
- Updated
- Apr 28, 2026
- Vendor
- Nicolas Zeh
- Product
- PHP Execution
- Classifications
- CWE-352, CAPEC-62, T1204.001
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=n/a <=1.0.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo