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Import Xml And Rss Feeds - Remote Code Execution (CVE-2023-4521)

CVE-2023-4521

Vulnerability CVE-2023-4521 PLUGIN import-xml-and-rss-feeds CRITICAL

The Import XML and RSS Feeds WordPress plugin before 2.1.5 contains a web shell, allowing unauthenticated attackers to perform RCE. The plugin/vendor was not compromised and the files are the result of running a PoC for a previously reported issue (https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/d4220025-2272-4d5f-9703-4b2ac4a51c42) and not deleting the created files when releasing the new version.

CVE-2023-4521

CRITICAL CVSS 9.8 Published 2023-09-25 Updated 2025-04-23
AI Risk Critical (100/100) Active Exploit: No strong signal Published Exploit: Possible PoC indicators Priority: P1 Immediate
Severity Band CRITICAL
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Components 1
Reference Links 1
AI Risk Engine Critical (100/100)
Exploitability Very High
Active Exploitation No strong signal
Published Exploit Status Possible PoC indicators

Threat Timeline

  1. 2023-09-25 CVE published and first recorded in the threat feed.
  2. 2025-04-23 Record updated with latest vulnerability metadata.
  3. 2026-04-09 AI technical context refreshed for mitigation and impact guidance.
  4. Now Monitoring for follow-up changes, linked references, and new related CVEs.

AI Context

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AI Updated 153 days ago

AI enriched 153 days ago (2026-04-09 07:52 UTC)

Technical Summary

The Import XML and RSS Feeds WordPress plugin before 2.1.5 contains a web shell, allowing unauthenticated attackers to perform RCE. The plugin/vendor was not compromised and the files are the result of running a PoC for a previously reported issue (https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/d4220025-2272-4d5f-9703-4b2ac4a51c42) and not deleting the created files when releasing the new version.

Potential Impact

Severity is CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8). Depending on deployment context, affected components may be exposed to unauthorized actions or data integrity risk.

Exploitability Assessment

Exploitability is assessed as Very High based on remote code execution potential, low-bar exploit prerequisites.

Primary risk drivers: remote code execution potential, low-bar exploit prerequisites

Mitigation Recommendations

Validate affected product versions, prioritize patching, and monitor references for vendor remediation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, apply compensating controls and limit exposure of vulnerable surfaces.

Detection & Monitoring

Track authentication anomalies, unexpected file writes, and suspicious plugin API activity around affected components.

Business Impact Lens

Prioritize remediation where affected components process customer data, admin sessions, or Internet-exposed workflows.

References

What to do about this

Patch immediately Serious, and reachable without meaningful privilege.

Fix it

Update Import Xml And Rss Feeds to 2.1.5 or later.

That is the complete fix. Everything below is what protects you in the meantime.

Cannot update today? Request / payload inspection (WAF) in Hack Halt ProSecure blocks this class of attack before WordPress processes the request.

Inspect request parameters and bodies for injection, traversal and file-inclusion payloads, and refuse the request rather than logging it.

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Not sure if you are affected?

Scan your site to see whether it runs Import Xml And Rss Feeds, and at which version.

Free, no installation, no account. It reads what your site already publishes, then tells you which plugins carry known vulnerabilities and what to do about each one.

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Am I affected by this vulnerability?

You are affected if your site runs Import Xml And Rss Feeds. Versions below 2.1.5 are vulnerable; that release and later are not. No account is needed to exploit this, so a public site is reachable by anyone.

How do I fix it?

Update Import Xml And Rss Feeds to version 2.1.5 or later. That is the complete fix. Until you can update, Request / payload inspection (WAF) in Hack Halt ProSecure contains this class of attack at the request layer.

What can an attacker actually do?

This is a Remote Code Execution flaw. An attacker who exploits it can run their own code on the server, which is total control of the site.

WordPress security that blocks attacks before they land.

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