# CVE-2023-7064: Deserialization in Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme

> Authenticated attackers can exploit PHP object injection in the Phlox theme plugin to potentially execute code or access data if a POP chain exists.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 2 May 2024
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rcjh-j3cc-cq79

## What is CVE-2023-7064?

CVE-2023-7064 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme, published on 2 May 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 2.17.5 via deserialization of untrusted input from the vulnerable 'id' parameter in the 'auxin_template_control_importer' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers able to upload a separate PHAR payload as an image file to inject a PHP Object, though the action itself is available to subscribers. No POP chain is present in the vulnerable plugin. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it could allow the attacker to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-7064?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Averta Shortcodes and Extra Features for Phlox Theme.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-7064?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-7064 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-7064 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-7064 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in 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-2023-37888](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37888/): WordPress Phlox Core Elements plugin <= 2.14.0 - Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion vulnerability (high 7.6)
- [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-2023-7064 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-7064 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in averta Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme, published on 2 May 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-7064 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: 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-2023-7064/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7064/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7064
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7064
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-7064

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7064/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.