CVE-2023-7064 | Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme <= 2.17.5 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) PHP Object Injection via auxin_template_control_importer

The Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 2.17.5 via deserialization of untrusted input from the vulnerable 'id' parameter in the 'auxin_template_control_importer' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers able to upload a separate PHAR payload as an image file to inject a PHP Object, though the action itself is available to subscribers. No POP chain is present in the vulnerable plugin. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it could allow the attacker to delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code.

Published: 2024-05-02 Last update: 2026-04-08 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2023-7064 is rated Moderate Risk (53/100): CVSS High severity, with medium exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.80%). Mandatory action: Review affected assets and schedule remediation.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-7064

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2025-11-21 3.45% 0.80% -2.65%
2 2025-11-18 0.80% 3.45% +2.65%
3 2025-09-21 0.80%

Full EPSS history (17 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-7064

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
7.5 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
1.6 5.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-7064

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-7064

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
averta shortcodes_and_extra_features_for_phlox_theme < 2.17.6 cpe:2.3:a:averta:shortcodes_and_extra_features_for_phlox_theme:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*

References for CVE-2023-7064

cvelogic Threat Intelligence