Object injection via unrestricted PHP deserialization
Published Feb 5, 2024 · Updated Apr 8, 2026
PHP object injection in WP Engine Better Search Replace 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to instantiate objects during database searches. The BSR_DB::unserialize method passes serialized database values to PHP unserialize without disabling class instantiation. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled serialized data in the database and a later search-and-replace operation; a POP chain from another plugin or theme enables file deletion, sensitive-data access, or code execution.
Summary
What happened
PHP object injection in WP Engine Better Search Replace 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to instantiate objects during database searches. The BSR_DB::unserialize method passes serialized database values to PHP unserialize without disabling class instantiation. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled serialized data in the database and a later search-and-replace operation; a POP chain from another plugin or theme enables file deletion, sensitive-data access, or code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-6933
- Published
- Feb 5, 2024
- Updated
- Apr 8, 2026
- Vendor
- WP Engine
- Product
- Better Search Replace
- Classifications
- CWE-502, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 5, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=1.4.4
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
- CVE-2023-6933 reverse-shell demonstrationfunctional · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Wordfence blocked-attack telemetryreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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