CVE-2025-0764: wpForo Forum File Read Vulnerability

CVE-2025-0764 Overview

The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress contains an arbitrary file read vulnerability affecting all versions up to and including 2.4.1. The flaw resides in the update method of the Members class and stems from insufficient input validation [CWE-20]. Authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges or higher can read arbitrary files on the underlying server. Exposed files may include configuration files such as wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and authentication secrets. The vendor, gvectors, addressed the issue in a plugin update tracked in the WordPress plugin repository.

Critical Impact

Authenticated users with minimal privileges can exfiltrate arbitrary server-side files, including WordPress configuration files containing database credentials and secret keys.

Affected Products

• gvectors wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress, all versions up to and including 2.4.1
• WordPress sites permitting subscriber-level or higher account registration
• Any WordPress deployment running the vulnerable Members class code path

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-02-28 - CVE-2025-0764 published to NVD
• 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-0764

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the update method of the Members class within the wpForo Forum plugin. The method processes user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation before using it in file operations. An authenticated attacker holding subscriber privileges, the lowest default WordPress role, can craft a request that causes the plugin to read files outside the intended scope. The impact is limited to confidentiality; the flaw does not allow modification of files or direct code execution. However, disclosure of wp-config.php or private key material can enable follow-on compromise of the WordPress database and administrative accounts.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation [CWE-20] within the member update logic. The plugin accepts attacker-controlled input that influences a file read operation without enforcing an allowlist, canonicalizing the path, or restricting access to expected directories. The Members class handles authenticated user profile updates, so the endpoint is reachable by any registered forum member.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress site and valid credentials at the subscriber tier or above. On sites permitting open registration, an attacker can create a subscriber account and immediately reach the vulnerable code path. No user interaction is required beyond issuing the malicious request. The attacker submits a member update request containing crafted input that causes the plugin to return the contents of an arbitrary file readable by the web server process.

A verified proof-of-concept is not publicly available. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context and the WordPress Plugin Changeset for the code-level fix.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0764

Indicators of Compromise

• POST or AJAX requests to wpForo member update endpoints containing path traversal sequences such as ../ or absolute file paths
• Access log entries showing subscriber-level accounts issuing repeated member update requests with anomalous parameter values
• Response payloads containing content from server-side files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or private key material
• Newly registered subscriber accounts that immediately interact with member update functionality

Detection Strategies

• Review web server and WordPress access logs for wpForo endpoint requests that reference filesystem paths in query or body parameters
• Deploy WordPress-aware web application firewall rules that block path traversal patterns targeting wpForo endpoints
• Correlate low-privilege account activity with responses returning unusually large payloads or unexpected Content-Type values

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on any read access to wp-config.php by the PHP process outside of normal WordPress bootstrap operations
• Monitor plugin inventory to identify sites still running wpForo Forum 2.4.1 or earlier
• Track subscriber-tier account creation rates and flag spikes indicative of automated registration for exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0764

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the wpForo Forum plugin to the version containing the fix referenced in changeset 3245711
• Audit existing subscriber and higher-tier accounts and remove any that are unrecognized or recently created
• Rotate WordPress secret keys and salts in wp-config.php and reset database credentials if file disclosure is suspected
• Restrict new user registration on sites that do not require self-service signup

Patch Information

The vendor released a fix tracked in WordPress Plugin Changeset 3245711. Site administrators should upgrade the wpForo Forum plugin to a version later than 2.4.1 through the WordPress admin dashboard or by deploying the updated plugin package manually. Confirm the installed version after upgrade to ensure the vulnerable code path is no longer present.

Workarounds

• Disable the wpForo Forum plugin until the patched version can be applied
• Restrict access to WordPress admin-ajax and forum endpoints using a web application firewall rule set that blocks path traversal payloads
• Enforce file system permissions so that the PHP process cannot read sensitive files outside the WordPress document root

# Configuration example: WP-CLI update and account audit
wp plugin update wpforo
wp plugin get wpforo --field=version
wp user list --role=subscriber --fields=ID,user_login,user_registered