# CVE-2016-15043: WP Mobile Detector - Arbitrary File Upload

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2016-15043 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2016-15043

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Websitez.com, LLC WP Mobile Detector
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)
- **Tags:** wordpress, cms

## Description

The WP Mobile Detector plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation in resize.php file in versions up to, and including, 3.5. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on the affected sites server which may make remote code execution possible.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2016-15043](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2016-15043) is a critical vulnerability in the WP Mobile Detector plugin for WordPress that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files due to missing file type validation in the resize.php file. This flaw can be exploited to achieve remote code execution on the affected server, potentially leading to full site compromise.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 14th of January 2026.

According to CrowdSec data, while opportunistic exploitation dominates, a portion of threat actors trying to exploit CVE-2016-15043 apply basic targeting methods such as port or service detection. This indicates emerging patterns of selective targeting.
Telemetry from the CrowdSec network also shows that exploitation activity for CVE-2016-15043 remains steady week-over-week. Attack volumes are consistent with long-term trends, indicating sustained interest from threat actors. CVE-2016-15043 continues to be an active part of the threat landscape and will likely remain this way for the forseeable future.

Attackers exploit the `/wp-content/plugins/wp-mobile-detector/resize.php` endpoint to upload arbitrary files, often with a `.php` extension, enabling remote code execution via subsequent access to `/wp-content/plugins/wp-mobile-detector/cache/`.

## Timeline

- 2025-07-19: CVE Published. CVE-2016-15043 is published to NVD.
- 2026-01-14: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2016-15043 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2026-01-19: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2016-15043 for the first time.

## References

- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/e4739674-eed4-417e-8c4d-2f5351b057cf
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mobile-detector/changelog/
- https://aadityapurani.com/2016/06/03/mobile-detector-poc/
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2016/CVE-2016-15043.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2016-15043) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2016-15043. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.