---
id: CVE-2017-20289
title: >-
  Broadstreet Ad Widget WordPress Plugin < 2.12.0 Local File Inclusion via step
  parameter
summary: >-
  Broadstreet Ad Widget plugin for WordPress 2.2.0 before 2.12.0 contains a
  local file inclusion vulnerability that allows authenticated users to execute
  attacker-chosen PHP files by passing unsanitized input to require in
  views/modal/inde…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-98
vendor: Broadstreet
product: Ad Widget
affected:
  - ad_widget >= 2.2.0 < 2.12.0
published: '2026-10-22'
updated: '2026-10-22'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-22T10:57:23.974Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-20289'
references:
  - url: 'https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/caca21fe-56bf-4d4c-afc8-4a218e52f0a2'
    label: WPScan Advisory
  - url: 'https://packetstorm.news/files/id/144553/'
    label: Packet Storm 144553
  - url: 'https://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2017100084'
    label: CXSecurity WLB-2017100084
  - url: 'https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/1628751/ad-widget'
    label: WordPress Changeset
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/vulnerabilities/wordpress/ad-widget-lfi.yaml
    label: Nuclei Template
  - url: 'https://wordpress.org/plugins/ad-widget/'
    label: WordPress Download Page
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/broadstreet-ad-widget-wordpress-plugin-2.12.0-local-file-inclusion-via-step-parameter
    label: >-
      VulnCheck Advisory: Broadstreet Ad Widget WordPress Plugin < 2.12.0 Local
      File Inclusion via step parameter
tags:
  - cve.org
ingestedAt: '2026-10-22T11:37:02.347Z'
---

## Overview

Broadstreet Ad Widget plugin for WordPress 2.2.0 before 2.12.0 contains a local file inclusion vulnerability that allows authenticated users to execute attacker-chosen PHP files by passing unsanitized input to require in views/modal/index.php. Attackers can supply directory traversal sequences in the 'step' parameter, optionally with a null byte, to include local files and execute PHP code. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-19.

## Affected

- `ad_widget >= 2.2.0 < 2.12.0`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.