CVE-2023-3452
Canto <= 3.0.4 - Unauthenticated Remote File Inclusion
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
9.8
Canto <= 3.0.4 - Unauthenticated Remote File Inclusion
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-3452- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-98
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-44114
9.8
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.
- Record
EUVD-2023-44114- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-r7j9-2qv5-fpm9
9.8
The Canto plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote File Inclusion in versions up to, and...
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.
- Record
GHSA-r7j9-2qv5-fpm9- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-98
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
9.8
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-3452- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-98
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei | WordPress Canto Plugin <= 3.0.4 - File Inclusion | |
| PoC in GitHub | Alpastx/CVE-2023-3452---WordPress-Canto-Plugin-RCE | 2026-03-03 |
| PoC in GitHub | leoanggal1/CVE-2023-3452-PoC | 2023-11-05 |
| PoC in GitHub | puppetma4ster/Metasploit-Wordpress-Canto-Exploit-RCE | 2026-03-06 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, Nuclei, NVD, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-3452 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Canto, published August 12, 2023. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 6.96%, the 94th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a76077c6-700a-4d21-a930-b0d6455d959c?source=cve
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/canto/trunk/includes/lib/tree.php?rev=2841358
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2951888/canto/trunk/includes/lib/tree.php
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3452
github.com/advisories/GHSA-r7j9-2qv5-fpm9