CVE-2026-118045 in Ever Accounting Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/06/2026
The Ever Accounting WordPress plugin before 2.3.3 does not restrict the file path supplied to its CSV import routine to an allowed directory, allowing users with its custom Accounting Manager role (which does not have administrator privileges) to delete arbitrary files on the server, such as wp-config.php, which takes the entire site offline.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2026
The vulnerability identified in Ever Accounting WordPress plugin versions prior to 2.3.3 represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation and path traversal weaknesses within its CSV import functionality. This issue specifically affects users assigned the custom Accounting Manager role, which is designed to provide limited administrative capabilities without granting full site control. However, due to insufficient sanitization of file paths supplied during the CSV import process, these lower-privileged users can manipulate system operations beyond their intended scope. The core technical flaw lies in the failure to restrict or validate the directory path associated with imported files, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary locations on the server's filesystem rather than being confined to a designated upload or temporary directory.
This lack of restriction enables an attacker to perform unauthorized file deletion operations across the entire web root and potentially other accessible directories. By crafting specific CSV inputs that include relative or absolute paths pointing outside the allowed scope, such as ../../wp-config.php, the user can trigger the removal of critical configuration files. The wp-config.php file is particularly vital in WordPress environments as it contains database credentials, authentication keys, and security salts. Its deletion effectively breaks the connection between the application and its database, resulting in a complete denial of service for the website. This outcome demonstrates how a seemingly minor input validation oversight can escalate into a catastrophic availability impact.
From an industry standard perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which describes flaws where software does not properly neutralize path sequences that might resolve to a parent directory or other location outside the intended scope. Additionally, the exploitation technique falls under MITRE ATT&CK tactic TA0043: Impact, specifically within sub-techniques related to Data Destruction and Denial of Service. The attacker leverages existing application functionality for legitimate purposes but abuses it through malicious input to achieve destructive outcomes without needing elevated privileges like administrator access. This highlights the risk associated with custom roles that may inadvertently inherit dangerous capabilities if not rigorously audited against path traversal vectors.
The operational impact is severe, as the deletion of wp-config.php renders the WordPress site completely inaccessible to all users until the file is restored from a backup or recreated manually by an administrator. In many cases, this leads to significant downtime and potential data exposure if backups are compromised or unavailable. Furthermore, depending on server permissions, similar attacks could target other sensitive files such as .htaccess configurations, theme files, or plugin directories, potentially leading to further compromise or defacement. The ability of a non-administrative user to execute these actions underscores the importance of implementing strict least-privilege principles and ensuring that all file system operations are sandboxed appropriately within web applications.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate updates to Ever Accounting version 2.3.3 or later are required, as the developer has addressed the path validation logic in subsequent releases. In environments where updating is not immediately feasible, administrators should enforce strict server-level permissions that limit write access for the WordPress user account to only necessary directories such as wp-content/uploads and wp-includes. Implementing a Web Application Firewall with rules capable of detecting path traversal patterns like ../ or ..\ can also provide an additional layer of defense by blocking malicious requests before they reach the application logic. Regular audits of custom roles and their associated capabilities are essential to ensure that no unintended file system operations are permitted, thereby maintaining the integrity and availability of the WordPress infrastructure.