CVE-2026-76551 in WP Import Export Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2026
The WP Import Export Lite WordPress plugin before 3.9.33 does not restrict which PHP function may be applied to exported field values, allowing users granted its export permission to have arbitrary functions invoked on values they control, leading to remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2026
The vulnerability identified in the WP Import Export Lite WordPress plugin prior to version 3.9.33 represents a critical server-side request forgery and deserialization flaw that stems from insufficient input validation during data export operations. The core technical deficiency lies in the plugins handling of exported field values, where it fails to restrict or sanitize which PHP functions can be applied as post-processing steps on user-controlled data. This architectural oversight allows an attacker who has been granted permission to use the plugin's export functionality to inject malicious payloads into specific fields within a WordPress database entry. When these entries are subsequently processed for export by another authorized user, the system blindly executes arbitrary PHP code embedded within those values rather than treating them as static text or safe data structures.
From an operational perspective, this flaw facilitates remote code execution with the privileges of the web server process, typically corresponding to the WordPress administrator role depending on how permissions are configured and who triggers the export action. An attacker does not need direct administrative access initially; they only require a low-level capability such as subscriber or contributor status that permits interaction with the import/export features. By crafting specific database entries containing serialized PHP objects or function call strings, the attacker can manipulate the execution flow of the plugin's backend logic. This effectively bypasses standard WordPress security models because the code is executed within the context of trusted application functions rather than through a direct web request to an exposed endpoint, making detection by traditional web application firewalls more difficult as the malicious activity appears as legitimate administrative data processing.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration categories such as CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code or Command and CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data if serialized objects are involved in the payload construction. In terms of attack vectors, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Server-Side Request Forgery and potentially Remote Code Execution via deserialization flaws like T1648 or general command injection patterns depending on the specific PHP function invoked. The impact is severe as it grants full control over the underlying server infrastructure hosting the WordPress instance, allowing for data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms installation, lateral movement within internal networks, and complete compromise of associated systems.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates. Administrators running versions earlier than 3.9.33 should upgrade to the latest patched version immediately upon availability from the official WordPress plugin repository or developer source. In cases where updating is not immediately feasible due to compatibility constraints, temporary mitigations involve restricting export permissions to only those users who are absolutely trusted and possess high-level administrative privileges, thereby reducing the attack surface for lower-privileged accounts. Additionally, implementing strict output encoding on all exported data fields before they undergo any processing functions can prevent the execution of injected code snippets. Security monitoring should also be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in PHP error logs or unexpected outbound network connections originating from the web server process, which may indicate successful exploitation attempts. Regular audits of user roles and capabilities within WordPress are essential to ensure that export functionalities are not inadvertently granted to untrusted parties.