Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-23802

Published
05 March 2026
Modified
22 April 2026
CVSS Score v3.1 9.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0046 38th percentile
Risk Priority 59 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-23802 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 9.1 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 38th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

This vulnerability is AI-related — categorised as LLM Application Platforms; in the Supply Chain and Deployment risk domain.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-3 (Malicious Code Protection) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2026-23802 is an Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability (CWE-434) in the AI Engine WordPress plugin developed by Jordy Meow. The flaw affects all versions of the ai-engine plugin from n/a through 3.3.2 and enables the use of malicious files through unrestricted file uploads.

The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating it can be exploited remotely with low complexity by an authenticated attacker possessing high privileges, such as administrator access, and without requiring user interaction. Successful exploitation results in high impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, accompanied by a scope change, allowing attackers to upload arbitrary malicious files that could lead to full system compromise.

Patchstack's advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/ai-engine/vulnerability/wordpress-ai-engine-plugin-3-3-2-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cve details this arbitrary file upload issue in AI Engine version 3.3.2 and provides guidance on mitigation for affected WordPress installations.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability in Jordy Meow AI Engine ai-engine allows Using Malicious Files.This issue affects AI Engine: from n/a through <= 3.3.2.

CWE(s)

AI Security AnalysisAI

AI Category
LLM Application Platforms
Risk Domain
Supply Chain and Deployment
OWASP Top 10 for LLMs 2025
None mapped
Classification Reason
Matched keywords: ai

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1505 Server Software Component Persistence
Adversaries may abuse legitimate extensible development features of servers to establish persistent access to systems.
T1505.003 Web Shell Persistence
Adversaries may backdoor web servers with web shells to establish persistent access to systems.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Control
Adversaries may transfer tools or other files from an external system into a compromised environment.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-10901Shared CWE-434
CVE-2025-48889Shared CWE-434
CVE-2024-36858Shared CWE-434
CVE-2025-26319Shared CWE-434
CVE-2026-41269Shared CWE-434
CVE-2026-1400Shared CWE-434
CVE-2025-23968Shared CWE-434
CVE-2024-52384Shared CWE-434
CVE-2025-6206Shared CWE-434
CVE-2024-5278Shared CWE-434

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.1.1

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Malicious-code protection at entry points blocks dangerous file types from being accepted and executed.

Least functionality restricts the file types and automatic processing capabilities the system will accept.

SC-18 Mobile Code partial match

Mobile-code controls define, authorize, and block unacceptable uploaded code before automatic processing occurs.

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.

PR.PS-05 mostly match
prevents

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

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.

finds

Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.

prevents

Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.

prevents

Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.

mitigates

Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.

References