# CVE-2023-6553: Backup Migration <= 1.3.7 - Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution

- Exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2023-12-15
- CVSS: 9.8 CRITICAL (v3.1)
- EPSS: 97.8% (100th percentile)
- CWE: CWE-94

The Backup Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.7 via the /includes/backup-heart.php file. This is due to an attacker being able to control the values passed to an include, and subsequently leverage that to achieve remote code execution. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to easily execute code on the server.

## Edge WAF coverage (claimed by vendors, not measured)

| Vendor | Status | First rule | Days after publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | Before feed history | — | — |
| AWS | No public claim | — | — |
| Microsoft Azure | No public claim | — | — |
| Google Cloud | Before feed history | — | — |
| Fastly | Before feed history | — | — |
| F5 | Rule published | 2024-11-12 | 333 |
| Akamai | No public source | — | — |
| OWASP CRS | No public claim | — | — |

### F5

- 2024-11-12 · new · rule 200104990
  > Added: signature 200104990 "WordPress Backup Migration RCE" (Server Side Code Injection, risk High), systems: PHP, WordPress. References: CVE-2023-6553.
  Source: https://docs.cloud.f5.com/docs-v2/platform/changelogs/security-details-changelog

## Our test (measured)

- OWASP Core Rule Set 4.25.0, paranoia level 1, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings: passed (0 of 2 requests blocked), template CVE-2023-6553, 2026-11-02
- OWASP Core Rule Set 4.25.0, paranoia level 2, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings: passed (0 of 2 requests blocked), template CVE-2023-6553, 2026-11-02

"No public claim" means no vendor statement names this CVE; "Before feed history" means the CVE is older than the vendor feed. In both cases generic rules may still block it.

HTML: https://cve.vigilbase.com/cve/CVE-2023-6553 · JSON: https://cve.vigilbase.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2023-6553