Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-28409

Critical

Published: 23 May 2023

Published
23 May 2023
Modified
31 January 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0618 91.0th percentile
Risk Priority 23 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2023-28409 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Mw Wp Form Project Mw Wp Form. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 9.0% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis

The vulnerability is an unrestricted file upload flaw (CWE-434) present in the MW WP Form WordPress plugin versions 4.4.2 and earlier. It allows an attacker to submit files of arbitrary and dangerous types through the plugin's form-handling functionality without server-side restrictions on content or extension.

A remote unauthenticated attacker can exploit the issue over the network with low complexity and no user interaction required. Successful exploitation can result in the upload of malicious files that enable code execution, data compromise, or full system control, consistent with the CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8.

Public advisories published by JVN and the plugin maintainer in May 2023 direct administrators to apply the available security update that resolves the unrestricted upload condition. The EPSS score has remained flat at 0.0618 with no material increase observed after disclosure.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type exists in MW WP Form versions v4.4.2 and earlier, which may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to upload an arbitrary file.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

mw wp form project
mw wp form
≤ 4.4.2

Mitigating Controls

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.

addresses: CWE-434

Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.

addresses: CWE-434

Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.

addresses: CWE-434

Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.

addresses: CWE-434

Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.

References