# CVE-2023-1381: WP Meta SEO < 4.5.5 - Author+ PHAR Deserialization

> An attacker with Author privileges can achieve remote code execution via PHAR deserialization in the WP Meta SEO plugin.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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:** 10 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 11 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r57w-p77g-3j43

## What is CVE-2023-1381?

CVE-2023-1381 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown WP Meta SEO, published on 10 Apr 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The WP Meta SEO WordPress plugin before 4.5.5 does not validate image file paths before attempting to manipulate the image files, leading to a PHAR deserialization vulnerability. Furthermore, the plugin contains a gadget chain which may be used in certain configurations to achieve remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-1381?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Joomunited Wp Meta Seo.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-1381?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-1381 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-1381 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-1381 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown WP Meta SEO

- [CVE-2023-0875](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0875/): WP Meta SEO < 4.5.3 - Subscriber+ SQLi (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-6961](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6961/): WP Meta SEO <= 4.5.12 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Referer header (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2024-45456](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45456/): WordPress WP Meta SEO plugin <= 4.5.13 - Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2023-0876](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0876/): WP Meta SEO < 4.5.3 - Subscriber+ Improper Authorization causing Arbitrary Redirect (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2024-45455](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45455/): WordPress WP Meta SEO plugin <= 4.5.13 - Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (medium 5.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-1381 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-1381 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown WP Meta SEO, published on 10 Apr 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-1381 exists.

Affected product: Unknown WP Meta SEO. 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-2023-1381/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1381/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-1381
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1381
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-1381

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1381/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.