Kognetiks Chatbot for WordPress: Unauthenticated arbitrary file upload
Summary
The Kognetiks Chatbot for WordPress plugin, versions up to and including 2.4.9, allows unauthenticated users to upload arbitrary files. An attacker can place malicious files on the web server, which can be used to take over the website. No login or user interaction is required. The CVSS score is 10.0 (Critical); NVD analysis is still pending.
Affected
- Kognetiks Chatbot for WordPress (slug chatbot-chatgpt) up to and including 2.4.9
- Whether an administrator must enable the upload feature for exploitation: Unknown.
Fixed in
- Version 2.5.0 (vendor changelog)
- Version 2.5.1 is also available; it fixes a different bug (security token on send) and does not mention further upload changes.
Workaround
- No vendor workaround documented.
- Interim option: disable file processing in the plugin settings, if available in your version (based on the 2.4.4 documentation; confirm it exists).
- Strongest interim option: deactivate and remove the plugin until the update is applied.
Exploitation
- CISA KEV: not listed.
- EPSS score 0.49% (third-party aggregator, not FIRST).
- Public proof of concept for CVE-2026-32579: Unknown (none found in searches).
- Patchstack rates the vulnerability as highly dangerous and expects exploitation; it is classified as usable in mass-exploit campaigns.
- An earlier unauthenticated file upload bug in the same plugin (CVE-2024-32700) has a public proof of concept.
Our recommendation
- Identify every WordPress site with this plugin and record its version.
- Update to version 2.5.0 at minimum, preferably 2.5.1, or remove the plugin if the chatbot is not needed.
- Scan upload and plugin directories for unexpected PHP or other script files, and review admin accounts and recent changes.
- Monitor NVD and the vendor changelog for updates, as NVD analysis is pending.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Patchstack advisory for CVE-2026-32579 patchstack.com
- Strix CVE mirror for CVE-2026-32579 www.strix.ai
- WPScan plugin page: chatbot-chatgpt wpscan.com
- Wordfence threat intelligence: chatbot-chatgpt www.wordfence.com
- Kognetiks release V2.5.0 (fix) github.com
- Kognetiks release V2.5.1 github.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 30 Oct 2026, 14:40.
Original description (NVD)
Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload in Kognetiks Chatbot for WordPress <= 2.4.9 versions.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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