Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A vulnerable WordPress import plugin allowed an administrator-level user to upload a zip archive containing paths that could write files outside the intended directory. That could let a compromised or malicious admin place files anywhere the web server account can write, creating serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability risk.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority where the plugin is installed, especially on business-critical WordPress sites. The privilege requirement reduces broad internet-scale risk, but compromised admin accounts could turn this into full site compromise.
Technical view
CVE-2022-2711 is a CWE-22 path traversal issue in Import any XML or CSV File to WordPress, also identified as WP All Import, before 3.6.9. The plugin did not validate file paths inside uploaded zip archives, allowing highly privileged users to write arbitrary files to web-server-writable filesystem locations.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the affected plugin before 3.6.9. The attacker must already have highly privileged access, such as administrator rights, but the impact is broad if that account is compromised.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires access to the plugin’s upload/import functionality with high privileges and depends on filesystem permissions available to the web server.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports path traversal through zip archive contents with arbitrary file write as the web server user. The bundle does not include proof-of-concept details, exploit telemetry, or vendor advisory text beyond the WPScan reference and CVE metadata.
Mitigation direction
- Update the plugin to version 3.6.9 or later.
- Check vendor guidance for any additional remediation instructions.
- Restrict administrator and import permissions to trusted accounts only.
- Review web server filesystem write permissions for unnecessary access.
- Investigate unexpected files in web-writable WordPress directories.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites using the affected import plugin.
- Confirm installed plugin versions are 3.6.9 or later.
- Review admin account access and recent privileged account activity.
- Check file integrity for unexpected additions in writable paths.
- Verify backups and recovery procedures for affected WordPress sites.
Public sources used
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-2022-2711 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
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/11e73c23-ff5f-42e5-a4b0-0971652dcea1CVE reference
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.