Skip to main content

Canto CVE-2023-3452

CRITICAL
PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98)
2023-08-12 security@wordfence.com
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File inclusion prevention, allowlisting
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Command and Control

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 87.05%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the critical-severity affected system.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity + public POC available.
Patch available 87.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAI

The Canto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote File Inclusion in versions up to, and including, 3.0.4 via the 'wp_abspath' parameter. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and EPSS exploitation probability 87.1%.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98. The Canto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote File Inclusion in versions up to, and including, 3.0.4 via the 'wp_abspath' parameter. This allows unauthenticated attackers to include and execute arbitrary remote code on the server, provided that allow_url_include is enabled. Local File Inclusion is also possible, albeit less useful because it requires that the attacker be able to upload a malicious php file via FTP or some other means into a directory readable by the web server. Affected products include: Canto.

Know when Canto gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch released
Apr 08, 2026 - 19:38 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Aug 12, 2023 - 03:15 nvd
CRITICAL 9.8

DescriptionCVE.org

The Canto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote File Inclusion in versions up to, and including, 3.0.4 via the 'wp_abspath' parameter. This allows unauthenticated attackers to include and execute arbitrary remote code on the server, provided that allow_url_include is enabled. Local File Inclusion is also possible, albeit less useful because it requires that the attacker be able to upload a malicious php file via FTP or some other means into a directory readable by the web server.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score
6.1/10
Composite threat intelligence
EPSS Score
87.1%
Top 1% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 87.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity + public POC available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

156
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +87
CVSS: +49
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities occur when an application accepts user-controlled input to specify which file should be loaded or executed, typically through functions like PHP's `include()`, `require()`, or `fopen()`.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:canto:canto:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*

More in Canto

View all
CVE-2022-40305 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Sep 09

A Server-Side Request Forgery issue in Canto Cumulus through 11.1.3 allows attackers to enumerate the internal network,

CVE-2024-4936 CRITICAL
9.8 Jun 14

The Canto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 3.0.8 via th

CVE-2013-7416 HIGH POC
7.5 Dec 03

canto_curses/guibase.py in Canto Curses before 0.9.0 allows remote feed servers to execute arbitrary commands via shell

CVE-2024-25096 CRITICAL
10.0 Apr 03

Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') vulnerability in Canto Inc. Rated critical severity (CVSS 10.0

CVE-2026-3335 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Mar 21

The Canto plugin for WordPress (versions up to 3.1.1) contains a critical missing authorization vulnerability in the cop

CVE-2020-28976 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Nov 30

The Canto plugin 1.3.0 for WordPress contains a blind SSRF vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnera

CVE-2020-24063 HIGH
7.2 Nov 10

The Canto plugin 1.3.0 for WordPress allows includes/lib/download.php?subdomain= SSRF. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), t

CVE-2020-28978 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Nov 30

The Canto plugin 1.3.0 for WordPress contains blind SSRF vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerabi

CVE-2020-28977 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Nov 30

The Canto plugin 1.3.0 for WordPress contains blind SSRF vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerabi

CVE-2026-6441 MEDIUM
4.3 Apr 17

Authenticated attackers with subscriber-level WordPress access can bypass capability checks in the Canto plugin (version

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy