# CVE-2022-0236: WP Import Export (Lite) <= 3.9.15 Unauthenticated Sensitive Data Disclosure

> Unauthenticated attackers can download sensitive imported or exported data due to a missing capability check in the WP Import Export plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 31 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r35g-5xjr-p2g3

## What is CVE-2022-0236?

CVE-2022-0236 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in vjinfotech WP Import Export, published on 18 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The WP Import Export WordPress plugin (both free and premium versions) is vulnerable to unauthenticated sensitive data disclosure due to a missing capability check on the download function wpie_process_file_download found in the ~/includes/classes/class-wpie-general.php file. This made it possible for unauthenticated attackers to download any imported or exported information from a vulnerable site which can contain sensitive information like user data. This affects versions up to, and including, 3.9.15.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-0236?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Vjinfotech Wp Import Export, Vjinfotech Wp Import Export Lite.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-0236?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-0236 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-0236 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-0236 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Proof of concept for unauthenticated sensitive data disclosure affecting the wp-import-export WordPress plugin (CVE-2022-0236) (github_poc): https://github.com/qurbat/CVE-2022-0236

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-0236 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-0236 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in vjinfotech WP Import Export, published on 18 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-0236 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: vjinfotech WP Import Export. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0236/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0236/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-0236
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-0236
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-0236

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0236/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.