# CVE-2023-2688: WordPress File Upload / WordPress File Upload Pro <= 4.19.1 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Path Traversal

> Administrators can exploit path traversal to move uploaded files outside the web root, potentially exposing or altering sensitive data.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9f3m-9cwg-r3h9

## What is CVE-2023-2688?

CVE-2023-2688 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Iptanus File Upload, published on 9 Jun 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The WordPress File Upload and WordPress File Upload Pro plugins for WordPress are vulnerable to Path Traversal in versions up to, and including, 4.19.1 via the vulnerable parameter wfu_newpath. This allows administrator-level attackers to move files uploaded with the plugin (located in wp-content/uploads by default) outside of the web root.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2688?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Iptanus Wordpress File Upload, Iptanus Wordpress File Upload Pro.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2688?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-2688 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-2688 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2688 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Iptanus File Upload

- [CVE-2024-11613](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-11613/): Code injection in Iptanus File Upload (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-11635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-11635/): WordPress File Upload <= 4.24.12 - Unuathenticated Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-9047](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9047/): The WordPress File Upload plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 4.24.11 via wfu_file_downloader.php. (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-10564](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10564/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-24962](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24962/): WordPress File Upload < 4.16.3 - Contributor+ Path Traversal to RCE (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2688 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2688 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Iptanus File Upload, published on 9 Jun 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2688 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown Iptanus File Upload. 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-2023-2688/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2688/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2688
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2688
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2688

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2688/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.