Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2023-2249 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability in Gvectors Wpforo Forum. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Software Extensions (T1176); ranked in the top 0.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to local file inclusion, server-side request forgery, and PHAR deserialization in versions up to and including 2.1.7. The root cause is an insecure call to file_get_contents in the plugin's Actions.php without validation of the supplied path or URL, which is reachable through plugin functionality that accepts user-controlled input.
Authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access can supply crafted paths or URLs to read arbitrary local files such as wp-config.php, trigger PHAR deserialization that may lead to remote code execution, and issue requests against internal services. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 with network attack vector, low complexity, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The referenced Wordfence advisory and WordPress plugin trac entries indicate the issue was addressed by changes to the same code path in version 2.1.8. Administrators should update the wpForo plugin to 2.1.8 or later; no other mitigations such as WAF rules or configuration changes are described in the provided references.
The EPSS score reached 0.4926 without an observable rise from a materially lower baseline.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-33757
Vulnerability Data
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Include, Server-Side Request Forgery, and PHAR Deserialization in versions up to, and including, 2.1.7. This is due to the insecure use of file_get_contents without appropriate verification of the data…
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being supplied to the function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with minimal permissions such as a subscriber, to retrieve the contents of files like wp-config.php hosted on the system, perform a deserialization attack and possibly achieve remote code execution, and make requests to internal services.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 6 hardening rules · 6 OS baselines
V14.2.3V3.5.6V9.1.3V15.3.2
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Penetration testing attempts server-side requests to internal resources, identifying SSRF weaknesses for remediation.
Limiting P2P file sharing technology reduces inclusion of functionality or resources from untrusted external control spheres.
Enforcing installation policies prevents users from including functionality obtained from untrusted control spheres.
The inventory process requires identifying and recording the origin of all components, making inclusion of functionality from untrusted control spheres easier to detect during reviews.
Requiring approval and monitoring of maintenance tools prevents inclusion and execution of functionality obtained from untrusted sources.
Unowned portable devices represent untrusted control spheres; the prohibition prevents inclusion of functionality or data from such sources.
Strategy mandates assessment of third-party components and suppliers, directly reducing inclusion of functionality from untrusted control spheres.
Procedures can mandate supply-chain vetting and restrictions on functionality obtained from untrusted third-party or external control spheres.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Runtime monitoring of web applications and services can detect anomalous outbound requests indicative of SSRF.
Supply-chain program directly governs inclusion of third-party executable code.
Contractual requirements can mandate trusted sources and integrity checks for included functionality.
Supplier risk assessment explicitly covers risks from their products and libraries.
Software inventory enables tracking of externally sourced components but does not itself enforce trust.
Vulnerability identification processes can discover and record SSRF flaws in web applications.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (higher-evidence rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
- V-248635 Executable search paths within the initialization files of all local interactive OL 8 users must only contain paths that resolve to the system default or the user's home directory. blocks CWE-829
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
- V-271847 OL 9 must be configured so that executable search paths within the initialization files of all local interactive users must only contain paths that resolve to the system default or the users home directory. blocks CWE-829
RHEL 7 (1 rule)
- V-204477 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must be configured so that all local interactive user initialization files executable search paths contain only paths that resolve to the users home directory. blocks CWE-829
RHEL 8 (1 rule)
- V-230317 Executable search paths within the initialization files of all local interactive RHEL 8 users must only contain paths that resolve to the system default or the users home directory. blocks CWE-829
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
- V-258050 Executable search paths within the initialization files of all local interactive RHEL 9 users must only contain paths that resolve to the system default or the users home directory. blocks CWE-829
Windows 10 (1 rule)
- V-220737 Administrative accounts must not be used with applications that access the Internet, such as web browsers, or with potential Internet sources, such as email. blocks CWE-829