Import XML and RSS Feeds <= 2.1.4 — Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution
CVE-2023-4521Published · Updated Action summary
Affected: ≤2.1.4Update to 2.1.5 or newer
All remediation steps- Severity
- Critical9.8
- CVSS
- 9.8CVSS 3.1 · CNA (Wordfence)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HWhat does this vector mean?
AV:NAttack vector- Network
AC:LAttack complexity- Low
PR:NPrivileges required- None
UI:NUser interaction- None
S:UScope- Unchanged
C:HConfidentiality- High
I:HIntegrity- High
A:HAvailability- High
- Required access
- No account needed
- Exploit prediction (EPSS)
- No score
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
On this page8
Am I affected?
Import XML and RSS Feeds import-xml-feed
- Affected≤ 2.1.4
- Patched in2.1.5
Update to 2.1.5 or newer.
You are affected if you run ≤ 2.1.4. Version 2.1.5 and later are not affected by this issue.
- Check your version: in wp-admin go to Plugins → Installed Plugins and read the version under Import XML and RSS Feeds.
- No admin access? Run a passive check of your site. It reads public files only.
- No account is needed to exploit this. Treat any exposed site on an affected version as at risk.
What to do
- Update to version 2.1.5, or a newer patched version
- Rotate administrator passwords and application secrets if the site ran a vulnerable version while publicly reachable.
- Watch Import XML and RSS Feeds to get an email when the next vulnerability is published.
Advisory
Source description from Wordfence Intelligence, credited to Enrico Marcolini.
The Import XML and RSS Feeds for WordPress is vulnerable to remote code execution in versions up to, and including, 2.1.4. This is due to the plugin vendor leaving a malicious file behind when patching CVE-2023-4300. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to access the 169227090864de013cac47b.php file and achieve remote code execution.
Exploits & references
Proof-of-concept & detection
No public proof-of-concept or detection template is known for this vulnerability.
Advisories & patches
- Advisorywordfence.com
Related CVEs
More in Import XML and RSS Feeds
All 4| Severity | Vulnerability | CVE | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical9.1 | Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Upload ≤2.1.5Update to 2.1.6 | CVE-2024-31292 | |
| High7.2 | Authenticated (Admin+) Arbitrary File Upload ≤2.1.3Update to 2.1.4 | CVE-2023-4300 | |
| Critical9.1 | Server-Side Request Forgery <2.0.3Update to 2.0.3 | CVE-2020-24148 |
- Critical9.1Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Upload
≤2.1.5Update to 2.1.6
- High7.2Authenticated (Admin+) Arbitrary File Upload
≤2.1.3Update to 2.1.4
- Critical9.1Server-Side Request Forgery
<2.0.3Update to 2.0.3
Timeline
CVE published
Severity critical, CVSS 9.8
Record last updated
Sources & licenses
Wordfence record- Vulnerability data
- Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. Licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0.
- CVE® identifiers
- Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. Used under the CVE Program. CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.
- CVSS / CWE
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD), shown unmodified. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.
- VulnCrest content
- Summary, remediation guidance and page layout © VulnCrest. Not sourced from NVD.