Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-38399 is a high-severity flaw in the WordPress Phlox Portfolio plugin. An unauthenticated attacker could abuse improper path handling to include local PHP files. For a public WordPress site, this can threaten sensitive data and site integrity if the vulnerable plugin is installed.
Executive priority
Prioritize validation on public WordPress properties. If the plugin is present at version 2.3.1 or earlier, treat remediation as urgent because exploitation requires no login or user interaction and could expose sensitive files.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-22 path traversal leading to PHP local file inclusion in Averta Phlox Portfolio, package auxin-portfolio, affecting versions through 2.3.1. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.6 with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on internet-facing WordPress sites running Phlox Portfolio version 2.3.1 or earlier. The source bundle does not identify other affected products or confirmed vulnerable configurations beyond the plugin and version range.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source confirms active exploitation. The scoring indicates unauthenticated remote reachability, so vulnerable public sites should still be treated as high priority.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a path traversal to PHP local file inclusion classification, but the bundle does not provide exploit details, affected endpoints, or a named fixed version. Avoid assuming exploitation in the wild without KEV or corroborating advisory evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the auxin-portfolio plugin and version.
- Upgrade beyond 2.3.1 if vendor guidance confirms a fixed release.
- Disable or remove the plugin until a supported fixed version is available.
- Monitor Patchstack, CVE, and vendor advisories for remediation details.
- Review web access logs for suspicious unauthenticated requests to plugin paths.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Phlox Portfolio is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record installed plugin versions and flag 2.3.1 or earlier.
- Check whether affected sites are publicly reachable without authentication.
- Verify remediation by confirming the plugin is removed, disabled, or updated.
- Review monitoring for file-access anomalies around the disclosure window.
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-2023-38399 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
- 8.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L
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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L3.94.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.6HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L
Source materials
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.