CVE-2023-28408Network attack vector

Unauthenticated site alteration via upload path traversal

Published May 23, 2023 · Updated Jan 17, 2025

Directory traversal in Monkey Wrench Inc. MW WP Form 4.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter or interrupt WordPress sites. The _file_upload routine trusts a submitted filename when generating its destination path, allowing traversal segments to escape the intended upload directory. No authentication is required; a crafted upload can modify site content, interrupt service, or expose sensitive information depending on configuration.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Directory traversal in Monkey Wrench Inc. MW WP Form 4.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to alter or interrupt WordPress sites. The _file_upload routine trusts a submitted filename when generating its destination path, allowing traversal segments to escape the intended upload directory. No authentication is required; a crafted upload can modify site content, interrupt service, or expose sensitive information depending on configuration.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28408
Published
May 23, 2023
Updated
Jan 17, 2025
Vendor
Monkey Wrench Inc.
Product
MW WP Form
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 17, 2025Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=versions v4.4.2 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Monkey Wrench Inc. · MW WP Formversion=versions v4.4.2 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

6.4JPCERT/CCAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
7.2JPCERT/CCCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

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