CVE-2026-76552 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 validate the type, extension or content of files it retrieves from a user-supplied URL during import, allowing users granted its import permission to store arbitrary files, including executable ones, on the server and achieve remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2026
The vulnerability identified in WP Import Export Lite versions prior to 3.9.33 represents a critical security flaw rooted in insufficient input validation mechanisms during file ingestion processes. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately verify the type, extension, or actual content of files retrieved from user-supplied URLs when performing import operations. This lack of rigorous sanitization allows an attacker who possesses at least basic contributor-level permissions on the WordPress installation to manipulate the import functionality by providing a malicious URL pointing to executable code rather than legitimate data formats such as CSV or XML. The core technical failure lies in the absence of strict allow-listing for file extensions and content-type headers, combined with insufficient binary signature verification that would detect if a file masquerading as one format is actually another.
From an operational perspective, this flaw enables remote code execution on the target server, which constitutes the most severe impact category within web application security frameworks. By successfully uploading executable files such as PHP scripts to the WordPress uploads directory or other writable locations accessible via HTTP, an attacker gains a persistent foothold within the compromised environment. This capability effectively bypasses traditional perimeter defenses because the malicious code is executed by the server itself under the context of the web service user account. Consequently, attackers can exfiltrate sensitive database credentials, modify site content to facilitate phishing campaigns, install additional malware such as backdoors or cryptominers, and pivot further into internal network segments if the WordPress instance has broader network access privileges.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-434, which describes the unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types, a common issue in applications that handle file uploads without proper validation. Furthermore, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1505.003, known as Web Shell: Cloud Accounts or Server-Side Request Forgery leading to code execution, depending on whether the attacker directly hosts the payload or leverages server-side request forgery characteristics if the plugin fetches URLs internally without validating the destination's trustworthiness and content integrity. The exploitation path typically involves crafting a malicious import file that references an external URL hosting the web shell, thereby tricking the application into downloading and storing this executable artifact on the filesystem.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to version 3.9.33 or later where these validation checks have been implemented by the developers. In environments where updating is not immediately feasible, administrators should restrict file upload permissions for all user roles except trusted administrators, although this may impact legitimate functionality depending on plugin configuration. Additionally, implementing server-level restrictions such as disabling PHP execution in the WordPress uploads directory via web server configuration (e.g., using .htaccess rules or Nginx location blocks) can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation even if a file is uploaded. Regular auditing of installed plugins and adherence to principle of least privilege for user accounts are essential defensive measures against this class of vulnerabilities.