# CVE-2026-76553: WP Import Export Lite < 3.9.33 - Authenticated Arbitrary Directory Deletion via Template Path Traversal

> Authenticated users with delegated capabilities can delete arbitrary directories and files via path traversal in WP Import Export Lite.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-j4q7-794x-44pp

## What is CVE-2026-76553?

CVE-2026-76553 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown WP Import Export Lite, published on 16 Sep 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The WP Import Export Lite WordPress plugin before 3.9.33 does not validate a path taken from stored, user-supplied data before recursively deleting the directory it resolves to, allowing users to whom an administrator has delegated a WP Import Export Lite WordPress plugin before 3.9.33 capability to delete arbitrary directories, and every file within them, including outside the web root.

Weakness: CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-76553?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-76553?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-76553 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-76553 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-76553 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-76553 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-76553 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Unknown WP Import Export Lite, published on 16 Sep 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-76553 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Unknown WP Import Export Lite. 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-2026-76553/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-76553/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-76553
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-76553
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-76553

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-76553/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.