WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead…: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2023-5241 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, AI Services from QuantumCloud, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, AI Services versions: 4.8.9 and earlier; 4.9.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.55% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 85% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Wpbot to 4.9.1 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantumcloud | WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, AI Services | 4.8.9 and earlier; 4.9.2 | Not stated |
| Quantumcloud | Wpbot | before 4.9.1; 4.9.2 | 4.9.1 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.6 | Critical | CNA (wordfence.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | NVD |
Official description
The AI ChatBot for WordPress is vulnerable to Directory Traversal in versions up to, and including, 4.8.9 as well as 4.9.2 via the qcld_openai_upload_pagetraining_file function. This allows subscriber-level attackers to append "<?php" to any existing file on the server resulting in potential DoS when appended to critical files such as wp-config.php.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Third-party and government advisories
- wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/25199281-5286-4d75-8d27-26ce215e0993?source=cveThird Party Advisory
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/175371/WordPress-AI-ChatBot-4.8.9-SQL-Injection-Traversal-File-Deletion.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, AI Services
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
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