Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability lets an unauthenticated attacker delete files through the WordPress Simple File List plugin. The documented impact is availability loss, not data theft. Affected versions are reported as through 6.1.9. Sites using the plugin should be inventoried and remediated promptly.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term website availability risk. It is not listed as known exploited in the provided data, but unauthenticated remote file deletion can disrupt public sites and recovery operations.
Technical view
CVE-2023-44227 is a missing authorization issue in Mitchell Bennis Simple File List for WordPress. CVSS 3.1 is 7.5: network reachable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, scope unchanged, availability high. The source bundle does not identify an endpoint, exploit method, or fixed version.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Simple File List versions through 6.1.9, especially internet-facing installations where plugin functionality is reachable.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV is false in the provided bundle, and no cited source here confirms active exploitation. The scoring indicates remote unauthenticated exploitation is possible, but exploit details are not provided.
Researcher notes
The record maps to CWE-862 and an availability-only CVSS profile. Evidence is incomplete for exploit status, vulnerable route, proof of concept, and fixed version. Use vendor or Patchstack details before writing detection logic.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Simple File List plugin and confirm installed versions.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for the fixed release or official mitigation.
- Disable or remove the plugin where a safe version cannot be confirmed.
- Ensure reliable backups exist before remediation and restoration testing is current.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Simple File List is installed and enabled on each WordPress site.
- Flag any installation at version 6.1.9 or earlier for remediation review.
- Review recent file integrity changes for unexpected deletions on affected sites.
- Check web server logs for unusual plugin access patterns without using exploit reproduction.
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-862: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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-2023-44227 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
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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.
Missing Authorization
Missing Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.