Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a high-risk file exposure flaw in the Apptha Slider Gallery WordPress plugin version 1.0. A public website using this plugin could let an unauthenticated visitor download files outside the intended gallery area, potentially exposing credentials or configuration data.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term remediation item for any internet-facing WordPress property. The main business risk is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive server files, not service disruption. Prioritize asset discovery first because exposure depends on a specific plugin and version.
Technical view
CVE-2017-20248 is a CWE-22 path traversal issue in Apptha Slider Gallery 1.0. The vulnerable download handler accepts an imgname parameter that can be manipulated to request files outside the intended directory. CVSS v4 score is 8.7, driven by unauthenticated remote access and high confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Apptha Slider Gallery 1.0, especially if the plugin is reachable from the public internet. The source bundle does not identify other affected versions or products.
Exploitation context
A public ExploitDB reference and VulnCheck advisory exist, so defenders should assume exploit knowledge is public. The CVE is not marked KEV, and the supplied sources do not state active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The supplied evidence supports unauthenticated arbitrary file download in Apptha Slider Gallery 1.0 and public exploit availability. No KEV listing or active exploitation evidence is provided. No official patch details are named in the bundle, so remediation should be tied to vendor confirmation or plugin removal.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Apptha Slider Gallery version 1.0.
- Disable or remove the plugin if it is not business-critical.
- Check Apptha or advisory sources for an official fixed version or migration guidance.
- Restrict public access to the affected download handler where feasible.
- Rotate exposed secrets if logs suggest sensitive files were accessed.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Apptha Slider Gallery 1.0 is installed on any WordPress site.
- Review web logs for requests to asgallDownload.php using traversal-like imgname values.
- Verify the vulnerable plugin is disabled, removed, or replaced.
- Confirm the download handler cannot access files outside intended gallery storage.
- Check for follow-on indicators if configuration or credential files may have been exposed.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2017-20248 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.7 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N3.93.6VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.7HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-41568CVE reference, VulnCheck · exploit
- Official Product HomepageCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: WordPress Plugin Apptha Slider Gallery 1.0 Path Traversal File DownloadCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.