CVE-2025-11973 Overview
CVE-2025-11973 is an arbitrary file read vulnerability in the 简数采集器 (KeyDatas) plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 2.6.3. The plugin exposes the __kds_flag functionality used to import featured images, which fails to properly validate file paths. Authenticated attackers with Administrator-level access or higher can read the contents of arbitrary files on the underlying server. Sensitive data such as wp-config.php credentials, private keys, and system configuration files can be exfiltrated through this weakness. The issue is categorized under CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path.
Critical Impact
Administrator-level attackers can read arbitrary files on the WordPress host, exposing credentials, secrets, and configuration data stored outside the webroot.
Affected Products
- WordPress 简数采集器 (KeyDatas) plugin — all versions ≤ 2.6.3
- WordPress installations with the plugin active and reachable administrator accounts
- Shared hosting environments where the WordPress process can read sibling tenant files
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-21 - CVE-2025-11973 published to NVD
- 2026-10-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-11973
Vulnerability Analysis
The KeyDatas plugin ships a featured-image import routine gated by the __kds_flag parameter. The handler accepts a user-supplied path or URL and reads the referenced resource from the local filesystem before attaching it as post media. Because the code trusts the caller-controlled path without canonicalization or allow-listing, an attacker can substitute arbitrary absolute paths such as /etc/passwd or /var/www/html/wp-config.php. The returned content is then exposed back through the plugin workflow, enabling file disclosure. See the Wordfence vulnerability overview for the referenced sink.
Root Cause
The root cause is external control of a filename passed to a file-reading function without validation [CWE-73]. The __kds_flag import logic treats the attacker-supplied identifier as a filesystem reference. No path normalization, base-directory containment, or MIME verification constrains the input, so traversal sequences and absolute paths resolve directly on disk.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated session at Administrator privilege or higher. The attacker invokes the plugin's featured-image import action and supplies a crafted path targeting any file readable by the PHP process. The server returns or processes the file contents, allowing disclosure of secrets, authentication tokens, and database credentials. While Administrator access is a high bar, compromised admin credentials, insider abuse, or chained vulnerabilities make this a practical post-authentication primitive for lateral movement.
No verified public exploit code is available at the time of writing. Refer to the plugin source browser and the Wordfence advisory for technical sink details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11973
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests to admin-ajax.php or plugin endpoints containing the __kds_flag parameter with absolute paths or ../ sequences
- Access log entries showing the KeyDatas import workflow referencing files outside wp-content/uploads/
- Unexpected reads of wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, .env, or SSH key material from the PHP worker process
- New or modified media library entries whose source URL points to local filesystem paths
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress request logs for the __kds_flag parameter and flag non-URL values
- Correlate PHP file-open syscalls with web requests to detect reads outside the uploads directory
- Audit administrator login activity for anomalous geolocation or session timing preceding plugin usage
- Monitor for outbound exfiltration patterns following administrator authentication events
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging covering plugin actions, user role changes, and administrator sessions
- Forward web server and PHP-FPM logs to a centralized analytics platform for query and alerting
- Alert on reads of sensitive files such as wp-config.php, .htaccess, and private key paths by the webserver user
- Review administrator account inventory monthly and remove dormant privileged accounts
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11973
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the KeyDatas (简数采集器) plugin until a patched release is available and verified
- Rotate WordPress database credentials, API keys, and secrets stored in wp-config.php if exploitation is suspected
- Enforce multi-factor authentication for all WordPress administrator accounts to raise the exploitation bar
- Review installed plugins and remove any that are no longer maintained or required
Patch Information
At publication, no fixed version beyond 2.6.3 is referenced in the NVD entry. Monitor the KeyDatas plugin page on WordPress.org and the Wordfence advisory for an updated release. Apply the patch as soon as it becomes available and verify the plugin version through the WordPress admin dashboard.
Workarounds
- Remove or disable the KeyDatas plugin on all affected WordPress sites until a patched version ships
- Restrict Administrator role assignment and audit existing privileged users for necessity
- Deploy a web application firewall rule blocking __kds_flag requests that contain ../, absolute path prefixes, or non-HTTP schemes
- Apply filesystem-level open_basedir restrictions in PHP to constrain the webserver to the WordPress document root
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.