Executive brief
The AI Engine plugin for WordPress, which provides artificial intelligence features for websites, contains a security flaw in how it handles file downloads. An authorized user with 'Editor' or 'Administrator' privileges can bypass intended folder restrictions to place files in unauthorized locations on the web server. While the system prevents overwriting existing files or uploading executable scripts, this could be used to plant unauthorized content or disrupt server organization.
Technical details
A path traversal vulnerability exists in the AI Engine plugin's 'create_image' REST API endpoint (`/wp-json/mwai/v1/helpers/create_image`). The plugin fails to sanitize the 'filename' parameter, allowing an authenticated user with Editor or Administrator roles to use traversal sequences (e.g., `../../../`) to specify a destination outside the standard uploads directory. While the plugin enforces an extension allowlist (preventing .php uploads) and does not overwrite existing files, an attacker can write arbitrary content (provided via a data URI or external URL) to any directory writable by the web server. This can be used to plant non-executable files in sensitive locations. The issue is fixed in version 3.5.5.
Affected products
- Jordi Meow AI Engine < 3.5.5
Timeline
- 2026-06-23: disclosed: Publicly published by WPScan
- 2026-07-14: advisory: NVD published date
- 2026-07-14: patched: Fixed in version 3.5.5