CVE-2024-0453 – The AI ChatBot WordPress plugin has an authoriz... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-0453?

CVE-2024-0453 has a CVSS score of 5.0 (MEDIUM). The AI ChatBot WordPress plugin has an authorization vulnerability that allows authenticated users with subscriber-level access or higher to delete files from a linked OpenAI account. This occurs because the openai_file_delete_callback function lacks proper capability checks. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 5.3.4 are affected.

📋 TL;DR

The AI ChatBot WordPress plugin has an authorization vulnerability that allows authenticated users with subscriber-level access or higher to delete files from a linked OpenAI account. This occurs because the openai_file_delete_callback function lacks proper capability checks. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 5.3.4 are affected.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

AI ChatBot WordPress Plugin

Versions: All versions up to and including 5.3.4

Operating Systems: All

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires WordPress installation with the vulnerable plugin and authenticated user access (subscriber or higher).

📦 What is this software?

Wpbot by Quantumcloud

View all CVEs affecting Wpbot →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Attackers could delete critical training files or configuration data from OpenAI accounts, disrupting chatbot functionality and potentially causing data loss.

🟠

Likely Case

Malicious users deleting files to disrupt chatbot operations or remove specific training data.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minimal impact if proper access controls and monitoring are in place to detect unauthorized file deletion attempts.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once authenticated.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 5.3.5

Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3089461/chatbot/trunk/includes/openai/qcld-bot-openai.php

Restart Required: No

Instructions:

1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'AI ChatBot' and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify version is 5.3.5 or higher.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Temporary Plugin Deactivation

all

Disable the vulnerable plugin until patched

wp plugin deactivate chatbot

Restrict User Roles

all

Temporarily limit subscriber-level access or review user permissions

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Remove the plugin entirely if not essential
Implement strict access controls and monitor file deletion activities

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check plugin version in WordPress admin under Plugins > Installed Plugins. If version is 5.3.4 or lower, you are vulnerable.

Check Version:

wp plugin get chatbot --field=version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify plugin version is 5.3.5 or higher after update.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unauthorized file deletion API calls to OpenAI
Multiple failed file deletion attempts from non-admin users
Suspicious activity in WordPress user logs

Network Indicators:

Unusual outbound traffic to OpenAI API endpoints from WordPress servers
Patterns of file deletion requests

SIEM Query:

source="wordpress" AND (event="file_delete" OR action="openai_file_delete") AND user_role!="administrator"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-0453

CVSS v3 Score: 5.0 (MEDIUM)

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

CWE: CWE-862

Published: May 22, 2024

Last Updated: May 12, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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