CVE-2023-5505Network attack vector

Site interruption via unrestricted backup directory

Published Aug 17, 2024 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Path traversal in BackWPup 4.0.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to write backups outside the WordPress content directory. The job-specific backup-folder setting accepts paths outside wp-content, and the folder-protection routine writes index.php and .htaccess into the selected directory. Administrator access and a writable destination are required; placing the directory at another site root can interrupt that site after a backup runs.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in BackWPup 4.0.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to write backups outside the WordPress content directory. The job-specific backup-folder setting accepts paths outside wp-content, and the folder-protection routine writes index.php and .htaccess into the selected directory. Administrator access and a writable destination are required; placing the directory at another site root can interrupt that site after a backup runs.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5505
Published
Aug 17, 2024
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
WP Media
Product
BackWPup
Classifications
CWE-22, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2026Record 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 <=4.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

WP Media · BackWPupversion=0 <=4.0.1

Published CVSS scores

6.8WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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

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Your stack

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