# CVE-2023-6623: Essential Blocks < 4.4.3 - Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion

> Unauthenticated attackers can exploit a local file inclusion vulnerability in the Essential Blocks WordPress plugin via the REST API to read files or execute code.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 11 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-phjg-gj5x-8j96

## What is CVE-2023-6623?

CVE-2023-6623 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Essential Blocks, published on 15 Jan 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Essential Blocks WordPress plugin before 4.4.3 does not prevent unauthenticated attackers from overwriting local variables when rendering templates over the REST API, which may lead to Local File Inclusion attacks.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6623?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wpdeveloper Essential Blocks.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6623?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6623 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6623 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6623 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Essential Blocks < 4.4.3 - Local File Inclusion (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-6623.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Essential Blocks

- [CVE-2023-4386](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4386/): Essential Blocks <= 4.2.0 - Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection via queries (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2023-4402](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4402/): Essential Blocks <= 4.2.0 - Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection via products (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2022-47594](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-47594/): WordPress Essential Blocks for Gutenberg plugin <= 3.8.5 - Broken Access Control (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2023-51360](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51360/): WordPress Essential Blocks plugin <= 4.2.0 - Multiple Subscriber+ Broken Access Control vulnerability (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-47385](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47385/): WordPress Essential Blocks plugin <= 4.8.4 - Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6623 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6623 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Unknown Essential Blocks, published on 15 Jan 2024. 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-2023-6623 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Essential Blocks. 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-2023-6623/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6623/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6623
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6623
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6623

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6623/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.