# CVE-2022-4030: Simple:Press <= 6.8 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Deletion

> Authenticated subscribers can delete arbitrary files via path traversal, potentially removing wp-config.php to enable site takeover and remote code execution.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Nov 2022
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gmfr-f9pg-xc4h

## What is CVE-2022-4030?

CVE-2022-4030 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in simplepress Simple:Press Forum, published on 29 Nov 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Simple:Press plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in versions up to, and including, 6.8 via the 'file' parameter which can be manipulated during user avatar deletion. This makes it possible with attackers, with minimal permissions such as a subscriber, to supply paths to arbitrary files on the server that will subsequently be deleted. This can be used to delete the wp-config.php file that can allow an attacker to configure the site and achieve remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-4030?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Simple-Press Simple\.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-4030?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-4030 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-4030 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-4030 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in simplepress Simple:Press Forum

- [CVE-2020-36706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-36706/): Simple:Press – WordPress Forum Plugin <= 6.6.0 - Arbitrary File Upload (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-4027](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4027/): Simple:Press <= 6.8 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Forum Replies (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2022-4028](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4028/): Simple:Press <= 6.8 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Profile Signatures (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2022-4029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4029/): Simple:Press <= 6.8 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via Cookie Value (medium 4.7)
- [CVE-2022-4031](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4031/): Simple:Press <= 6.8 - Authenticated (Admin+) Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Modification (low 3.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-4030 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-4030 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in simplepress Simple:Press Forum, published on 29 Nov 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-4030 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: simplepress Simple:Press Forum. 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-2022-4030/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4030/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-4030
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4030
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-4030

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4030/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.