CVE-2022-2438

Broken Link Checker <= 1.11.16 - Authenticated (Admin+) PHAR Deserialization

HIGH
7.2
CVSS Score
Published: September 6, 2022 at 05:18 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:41 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsBroken Link CheckerBroken Link Checker

Using Broken Link Checker by wpmudev?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect Broken Link Checker - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available
Severity
HIGH7.2
Exploit prediction
EPSS 2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

The Broken Link Checker plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to deserialization of untrusted input via the '$log_file' value in versions up to, and including 1.11.16. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with administrative privileges and above to call files using a PHAR wrapper that will deserialize the data and call arbitrary PHP Objects that can be used to perform a variety of malicious actions granted a POP chain is also present. It also requires that the attacker is successful in uploading a file with the serialized payload.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 1.11.17
Affected range stops below 1.11.17, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
v ≤ 1.11.16

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.2HIGHWordfence
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-502

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Free plan, no card