CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2020-25213Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

WordPress File Manager Plugin Remote Code Execution

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2020-25213 is a critical-severity unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type vulnerability in File Manager from Filemanagerpro, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 6.9 as the first without the flaw, so updating File Manager to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on November 3, 2021, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Update File Manager to 6.9 or a later version.
  2. CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
FilemanagerproFile Managerbefore 6.96.9

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.110.0CriticalCNA (mitre.org)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 2.07.5HighNVD

Official description

The File Manager (wp-file-manager) plugin before 6.9 for WordPress allows remote attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code because it renames an unsafe example elFinder connector file to have the .php extension. This, for example, allows attackers to run the elFinder upload (or mkfile and put) command to write PHP code into the wp-content/plugins/wp-file-manager/lib/files/ directory. This was exploited in the wild in August and September 2020.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

The product allows the upload or transfer of dangerous file types that are automatically processed within its environment.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Generate a new, unique filename for an uploaded file instead of using the user-supplied filename, so that no external input is used at all.
  • When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs.
  • Consider storing the uploaded files outside of the web document root entirely. Then, use other mechanisms to deliver the files dynamically.

More Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerabilities (CWE-434)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  4. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in File Manager

All File Manager vulnerabilities

Recent Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerabilities

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