# CVE-2023-37888: WordPress Phlox Core Elements plugin <= 2.14.0 - Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion vulnerability

> Unauthenticated attackers can exploit a path traversal flaw in the Phlox Core Elements plugin to include arbitrary local files, potentially leading to code execution or data disclosure.

- **Severity:** High 7.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L`)
- **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:** 17 May 2024
- **Updated:** 28 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-79r3-h45p-3c2x

## What is CVE-2023-37888?

CVE-2023-37888 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in By Averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme, published on 17 May 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in By Averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme: from n/a through 2.14.0.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-37888?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Averta Shortcodes and Extra Features for Phlox Theme.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-37888?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-37888 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-37888 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-37888 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in By Averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme

- [CVE-2022-3359](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3359/): Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme < 2.10.7 - PHP Objection Injection (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-7064](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7064/): Deserialization in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-50368](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-50368/): WordPress Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme Plugin <= 2.15.2 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-12588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12588/): Cross-site scripting in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2024-9545](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9545/): Cross-site scripting in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme (medium 6.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-37888 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-37888 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in By Averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme, published on 17 May 2024. 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-2023-37888 exists.

Affected product: By Averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme. 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-2023-37888/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37888/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-37888
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-37888
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-37888

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37888/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.