Backup Backup - Remote Code Execution (CVE-2023-6553)

Q: Am I affected by this vulnerability?

You are affected if your site runs Backup Backup. No account is needed to exploit this, so a public site is reachable by anyone.

Q: How do I fix it?

Update Backup Backup to the latest available version. Where the vendor has not yet published a fix, remove or disable the plugin until they do. Until you can update, Request / payload inspection (WAF) in Hack Halt ProSecure contains this class of attack at the request layer.

Q: 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.

CVE-2023-6553

Vulnerability CVE-2023-6553 PLUGIN backup-backup CRITICAL

The Backup Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.7 via the /includes/backup-heart.php file. This is due to an attacker being able to control the values passed to an include, and subsequently leverage that to achieve remote code execution. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to easily execute code on the server.

CVE-2023-6553

CRITICAL CVSS 9.8 Published 2023-12-15 Updated 2026-06-17

AI Risk Critical (100/100) Active Exploit: Likely Published Exploit: Public exploit references found 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 2

Reference Links 8

AI Risk Engine Critical (100/100)

Exploitability Very High

Active Exploitation Likely

Published Exploit Status Public exploit references found

Threat Timeline

2023-12-15 CVE published and first recorded in the threat feed.
2026-06-17 Record updated with latest vulnerability metadata.
2026-04-09 AI technical context refreshed for mitigation and impact guidance.
Now Monitoring for follow-up changes, linked references, and new related CVEs.

AI Context

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AI Updated 166 days ago

AI enriched 166 days ago (2026-04-09 06:40 UTC)

Technical Summary

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 published exploit references, remote code execution potential, low-bar exploit prerequisites.

Primary risk drivers: published exploit references, 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.

Affected Products

Backup Backup PLUGIN · backup-backup Affected range not specified Fixed version not specified

Backup Migration PLUGIN · backup-migration Affected: <= 1.3.7 Fixed version not specified

References

What to do about this

Patch immediately Serious, and reachable without meaningful privilege.

Fix it

Update Backup Backup to the latest available version.

Where the vendor has not published a fix yet, disable the plugin until they do.

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.

Compare Hack Halt plans Start free

Not sure if you are affected?

Scan your site to see whether it runs Backup Backup, 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.

Scan my site free See what Hack Halt does

Am I affected by this vulnerability?