# CVE-2020-11738: Wordpress Snap Creek Duplicator - Path Traversal

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2020-11738 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-2020-11738

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 7.5
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Snap Creek Duplicator
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'))
- **Tags:** cms, wordpress

## Description

The Snap Creek Duplicator plugin before 1.3.28 for WordPress (and Duplicator Pro before 3.8.7.1) allows Directory Traversal via ../ in the file parameter to duplicator_download or duplicator_init.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2020-11738](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2020-11738) is a vulnerability affecting the Snap Creek Duplicator plugin for WordPress. It enables attackers to perform directory traversal by manipulating crafted parameters, which can lead to unauthorized file access on the underlying server.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 15th of December 2023.

CrowdSec network data shows that most actors exploiting CVE-2020-11738 rely on broad, untargeted scans with minimal filtering. The activity is largely automated and opportunistic in nature.
CrowdSec data also reveals a clear uptick in attacks involving CVE-2020-11738 over the past week. Activity is above the usual baseline, suggesting growing attention from attackers. This may reflect rising awareness, recent exploit releases, or expanded targeting efforts.

Observed attacks commonly attempt to access the `/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php` endpoint using parameters indicative of file download and traversal activity.

## Timeline

- 2020-04-13: CVE Published. CVE-2020-11738 is published to NVD.
- 2021-11-03: CISA KEV. CVE-2020-11738 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2022-05-03: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2023-12-15: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2020-11738 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2023-12-15: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2020-11738 for the first time.

## References

- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/23.html
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-11738.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2020-11738) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2020-11738. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.