CVE-2025-14829: E-xact WordPress Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-14829 Overview

CVE-2025-14829 is an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability affecting the E-xact | Hosted Payment WordPress plugin through version 2.0. The vulnerability stems from insufficient file path validation, which allows unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server. This type of vulnerability can lead to complete site compromise, data loss, and denial of service.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can delete critical WordPress files, including wp-config.php, leading to complete site unavailability and potential full site compromise through reinstallation attacks.

Affected Products

• E-xact | Hosted Payment WordPress plugin through version 2.0
• WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin versions
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress installations

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-13 - CVE CVE-2025-14829 published to NVD
• 2026-01-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14829

Vulnerability Analysis

This arbitrary file deletion vulnerability occurs due to insufficient validation of user-supplied file paths within the E-xact | Hosted Payment plugin. The plugin fails to properly sanitize or validate input before performing file deletion operations, allowing attackers to specify paths outside the intended directory scope.

The attack requires no authentication, meaning any remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability against affected WordPress installations. The impact includes potential deletion of critical system files, WordPress core files, or configuration files such as wp-config.php. When the WordPress configuration file is deleted, the site becomes non-functional and may enter a reinstallation state, which attackers can abuse to gain administrative control.

This vulnerability type is particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where file deletion could impact other applications or services on the same server.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the file path handling logic. The plugin does not implement adequate path traversal protections, allowing attackers to use directory traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory and target files elsewhere on the filesystem. The absence of basename extraction, realpath validation, or allowlist-based file filtering enables this attack vector.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoint, specifying file paths that traverse outside the plugin's directory structure. By targeting critical files, the attacker can:

1. Delete wp-config.php to force WordPress into reinstallation mode
2. Remove essential plugin or theme files to cause site malfunction
3. Delete log files to cover tracks of other malicious activities
4. Target backup files to prevent recovery efforts

The attack surface is exposed to any network-accessible WordPress installation running the affected plugin version.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14829

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected HTTP requests to E-xact Hosted Payment plugin endpoints with path traversal patterns (e.g., ../ sequences)
• Missing critical WordPress files such as wp-config.php, index.php, or plugin files
• WordPress site entering reinstallation mode without administrator action
• Unusual file system access logs showing deletion operations on sensitive files
• Error logs indicating missing files that were previously present

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal attempts targeting WordPress plugin endpoints
• Monitor file integrity using tools that can alert on unexpected file deletions, particularly for critical WordPress configuration files
• Review web server access logs for suspicious requests containing directory traversal sequences
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity Platform for real-time detection of file system anomalies and malicious web request patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for file system operations on WordPress installations
• Configure alerts for deletion of critical files including wp-config.php, .htaccess, and core WordPress files
• Monitor web application logs for requests with encoded path traversal patterns (%2e%2e%2f or similar)
• Implement baseline monitoring to detect unusual file deletion activity on web servers

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14829

Immediate Actions Required

• Deactivate and remove the E-xact | Hosted Payment plugin immediately if currently installed
• Review file system for any unauthorized deletions or modifications
• Verify integrity of critical WordPress files including wp-config.php and core files
• Restore any missing files from a known-good backup
• Implement WAF rules to block path traversal attempts while awaiting a patch

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. Site administrators should monitor the WPScan Vulnerability Report for updates regarding a security fix. Until a patch is available, the plugin should be removed from production environments.

Workarounds

• Remove the E-xact | Hosted Payment plugin until a patched version is available
• Implement server-level file permission restrictions to protect critical WordPress files from deletion
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules blocking path traversal patterns
• Use WordPress security plugins that provide file change detection and protection capabilities
• Consider alternative payment integration plugins with better security track records

The most effective mitigation is complete removal of the vulnerable plugin. If the payment functionality is critical, migrate to an alternative WordPress payment plugin that is actively maintained and has undergone security review.