CVE•Published 2023-07-27•Modified 2026-04-08•1 article on news•5 live references•NVD data

CVE-2023-3956Instawp · Instawp_connect

Vulnerability data via NVD (ingested)

CVSS v3.1

9.8

CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS percentile

Exploit Prediction Scoring System · top 25% of all CVEs

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-862Missing Authorization

Description

The InstaWP Connect plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data, modification of data and loss of data due to a missing capability check on the 'events_receiver' function in versions up to, and including, 0.0.9.18. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to add, modify or delete post and taxonomy, install, activate or deactivate plugin, change customizer settings, add or modify or delete user including administrator user.

Timeline

Published 2023-07-27

Modified 2026-04-08

External references

NVD MITRE Exploit-DB trickest/cve VulnCheck

Search for exposed instances

Shodan + Censys queries derived from NVD's CPE data. The vuln tag catches assets Shodan has explicitly linked to this CVE; the product / banner fingerprints find exposed instances even when the vuln tag was never applied (which is common).

Shodan · vuln tag0 hosts

vuln:CVE-2023-3956

Hosts Shodan has explicitly fingerprinted as vulnerable.

Shodan · WP plugin path

http.html:"/wp-content/plugins/instawp-connect/"

Matches any site loading the "instawp-connect" plugin — doesn't rely on Shodan's vuln tag.

Shodan · product

product:"Instawp Instawp Connect"

All exposed Instawp Instawp Connect instances — cross-reference with the CVE's affected-version range.

Shodan · banner/body mention

http.html:"Instawp Connect"

HTTP body or banner mentions "Instawp Connect" — catches deploys Shodan didn't identify as a product.