CVE-2025-12851: My auctions allegro WordPress RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-12851 Overview

The My auctions allegro plugin for WordPress contains a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting all versions up to and including 3.6.32. The vulnerability exists in the controller parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user input before including files. This security flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to include and execute arbitrary files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code present in those files.

The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of the WordPress installation, including bypassing access controls, exfiltrating sensitive data such as database credentials and user information, and achieving remote code execution when combined with file upload capabilities.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable WordPress installations by exploiting the Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the controller parameter, potentially leading to full server compromise.

Affected Products

• My auctions allegro plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 3.6.32
• WordPress installations using the My auctions allegro Free Edition plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-12-05 - CVE-2025-12851 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-12851

Vulnerability Analysis

This Local File Inclusion vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The flaw occurs because the plugin does not adequately validate or sanitize the controller parameter before using it in a PHP include statement.

An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without any user interaction. The vulnerability requires more complex attack conditions to achieve full exploitation, as it typically necessitates the presence of uploadable or existing malicious content on the server.

When successfully exploited, the attacker can read arbitrary files from the server filesystem, execute PHP code from any accessible file, bypass authentication and authorization mechanisms, and potentially escalate to full server compromise through chained attacks.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation of the controller parameter. The plugin directly incorporates user-controlled input into file inclusion operations without proper sanitization, path validation, or allowlist checking. This allows attackers to manipulate the parameter to reference files outside the intended directory structure using path traversal sequences or by specifying absolute paths.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation without authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests that manipulate the controller parameter to include arbitrary files on the server. The exploitation typically follows this pattern:

1. The attacker identifies a WordPress installation running a vulnerable version of the My auctions allegro plugin
2. A malicious request is crafted with a manipulated controller parameter containing path traversal sequences or references to sensitive files
3. The server processes the request and includes the specified file, executing any PHP code contained within
4. In scenarios where the attacker can upload files (such as images with embedded PHP code), full remote code execution can be achieved

For detailed technical analysis, see the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-12851

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to the My auctions allegro plugin containing path traversal sequences such as ../ in the controller parameter
• Web server logs showing requests with references to sensitive files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other configuration files
• Unexpected PHP execution errors or warnings related to file inclusion in WordPress error logs
• Evidence of unauthorized file access or data exfiltration from server logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for requests containing path traversal patterns targeting the My auctions allegro plugin endpoints
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications or access to sensitive WordPress configuration files
• Review server access logs for unusual patterns of requests to plugin directories, particularly those containing encoded path traversal sequences
• Deploy intrusion detection systems with signatures for Local File Inclusion attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for WordPress and the web server to capture detailed request information for forensic analysis
• Configure alerts for any access attempts to wp-config.php or other sensitive WordPress files from unexpected sources
• Monitor for unusual outbound connections that may indicate data exfiltration following successful exploitation
• Implement real-time alerting for web requests containing common LFI payloads

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-12851

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the My auctions allegro plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• If immediate patching is not possible, temporarily disable the My auctions allegro plugin until a patched version can be deployed
• Review server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts and investigate any suspicious activity
• Conduct a security audit of uploaded files to identify any potentially malicious content that could be leveraged in an LFI attack

Patch Information

A security patch addressing this vulnerability is available. The fix can be reviewed in the WordPress Plugin Change Notice. Website administrators should update to the latest available version of the plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard or by manually downloading and installing the patched version from the WordPress plugin repository.

Workarounds

• Disable the My auctions allegro plugin if it is not essential for site functionality until the patch can be applied
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing path traversal sequences in the controller parameter
• Restrict file permissions on the WordPress installation to prevent unauthorized file access and limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Consider implementing additional server-level security controls such as open_basedir restrictions to limit PHP file inclusion scope

# Configuration example - Apache mod_rewrite rule to block path traversal attempts
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root directory
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.\\) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} controller=.*(\.\.|%2e%2e) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]