# CVE-2023-0159: Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder < 1.9.1 - Unauthenticated RCE

> Unauthenticated attackers can read arbitrary files and achieve remote code execution via path traversal in the Extensive VC Addons 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:** 13 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c4h9-8c9r-v3m8

## What is CVE-2023-0159?

CVE-2023-0159 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder, published on 13 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder WordPress plugin before 1.9.1 does not validate a parameter passed to the php extract function when loading templates, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to override the template path to read arbitrary files from the hosts file system. This may be escalated to RCE using PHP filter chains.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-0159?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wprealize Extensive Vc Addons for Wpbakery Page Builder.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-0159?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-0159 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-0159 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-0159 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Automatic Mass Tool for checking vulnerability in CVE-2023-0159 - Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder < 1.9.1 - Unauthenticated LFI (github_poc): https://github.com/im-hanzou/EVCer
- Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder 1.9.0 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) (exploitdb)
- Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder < 1.9.1 - Unauthenticated RCE (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-0159.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-0159 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-0159 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder, published on 13 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-0159 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery page builder. 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-2023-0159/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0159/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-0159
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-0159
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-0159

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0159/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.