# CVE-2023-6972: Backup Migration <= 1.3.9 - Unauthenticated Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Deletion

> Unauthenticated attackers can delete arbitrary files via path traversal, potentially leading to site takeover and remote code execution.

- **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:** 23 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r363-9gh8-w82j

## What is CVE-2023-6972?

CVE-2023-6972 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in inisev BackupBliss – Backup & Migration with Free Cloud Storage, published on 23 Dec 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Backup Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.9 via the 'content-backups' and 'content-name', 'content-manifest', or 'content-bmitmp' and 'content-identy' HTTP headers. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files, including the wp-config.php file, which can make site takeover and remote code execution possible.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6972?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Backupbliss Backup Migration.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6972?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6972 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6972 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6972 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- This repository contains a Proof of Concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2023-6972. (github_poc): https://github.com/0x00phantom-hat/CVE-2023-6972-Exploit-Arbitrary-File-Deletion

## Other vulnerabilities in inisev BackupBliss – Backup & Migration with Free Cloud Storage

- [CVE-2023-6553](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6553/): Backup Migration <= 1.3.7 - Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-6971](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6971/): Code injection in Backup Migration (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2023-6266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6266/): Backup Migration <= 1.3.6 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary Backup Download to Sensitive Information Exposure (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6271/): Backup Migration Staging < 1.3.6 - Sensitive Data Exposure (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-7002](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7002/): Backup Migration <= 1.3.9 - Authenticated (Admin+) OS Command Injection via url (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6972 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6972 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in inisev BackupBliss – Backup & Migration with Free Cloud Storage, published on 23 Dec 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6972 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: inisev BackupBliss – Backup & Migration with Free Cloud Storage. 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-2023-6972/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6972/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6972
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6972
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6972

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6972/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.