Arbitrary file reads via multisite authorization bypass
Published Sep 4, 2023 · Updated Mar 6, 2025
Incorrect authorization in Advanced File Manager before 5.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to read server files on WordPress multisite. The plugin exposes its server-side file manager to site administrators because the multisite access gate does not require network super-administrator status; no function-level locus is publicly documented. A multisite deployment and site-administrator account are required, and successful access exposes directory listings and readable files within the configured filesystem reach.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect authorization in Advanced File Manager before 5.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to read server files on WordPress multisite. The plugin exposes its server-side file manager to site administrators because the multisite access gate does not require network super-administrator status; no function-level locus is publicly documented. A multisite deployment and site-administrator account are required, and successful access exposes directory listings and readable files within the configured filesystem reach.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-3814
- Published
- Sep 4, 2023
- Updated
- Mar 6, 2025
- Vendor
- Saad Iqbal
- Product
- Advanced File Manager
- Classifications
- CWE-863, T1083, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 6, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <5.1.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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
- WPScan multisite site-administrator proof of conceptproof of concept · validated
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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