CVE-2025-30793: Houzez Property Feed Path Traversal

CVE-2025-30793 Overview

CVE-2025-30793 is a Path Traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) affecting the Houzez Property Feed WordPress plugin developed by Property Hive. This improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory allows attackers to traverse the file system and potentially download arbitrary files from the vulnerable WordPress installation.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive files outside the intended directory, potentially exposing configuration files, database credentials, and other critical system information.

Affected Products

• Houzez Property Feed plugin versions up to and including 2.5.4
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-01 - CVE-2025-30793 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30793

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the Houzez Property Feed plugin's file handling functionality. The plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied file path parameters, allowing attackers to use directory traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory and access files elsewhere on the server's file system.

The arbitrary file download capability means an attacker could potentially retrieve sensitive WordPress configuration files like wp-config.php, which typically contains database credentials and authentication keys. This could lead to full site compromise or lateral movement within the hosting environment.

Root Cause

The root cause is the lack of proper path canonicalization and validation when processing file paths supplied by users. The plugin does not adequately restrict file access to the intended directory, failing to sanitize traversal sequences before using them in file operations. This is a classic example of CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory).

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed by authenticated or potentially unauthenticated users who can interact with the vulnerable file download functionality. By manipulating file path parameters with directory traversal sequences, an attacker can request files from arbitrary locations on the server. The attack does not require any special privileges and can be conducted remotely through normal HTTP requests to the WordPress installation.

For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack vulnerability advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30793

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file access requests containing directory traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/) in WordPress access logs
• Requests targeting sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other system configuration files
• HTTP requests to the Houzez Property Feed plugin endpoints with suspicious path parameters
• Unexpected outbound data transfers following requests to the plugin

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in request parameters
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on directory traversal sequences in HTTP traffic
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on critical configuration files to detect unauthorized access
• Enable detailed WordPress access logging and monitor for anomalous file request patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing encoded or unencoded traversal sequences
• Set up alerts for any access attempts to sensitive system files outside the WordPress directory
• Implement real-time log analysis to detect exploitation attempts against the Houzez Property Feed plugin
• Review server audit logs for file access events originating from the web server process

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30793

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Houzez Property Feed plugin to a patched version immediately if one is available
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling the plugin until a fix is released
• Implement WAF rules to block path traversal attempts targeting the plugin
• Audit WordPress installations to identify all instances of the vulnerable plugin

Patch Information

Administrators should check the official Property Hive plugin repository and the WordPress plugin directory for updated versions that address this vulnerability. Review the Patchstack advisory for the latest patch status and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Implement server-level restrictions to prevent web server processes from accessing files outside the WordPress installation directory
• Configure .htaccess rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns
• Use a security plugin or WAF to filter malicious input before it reaches the vulnerable plugin
• Restrict plugin functionality to authenticated administrators only if possible

# Example .htaccess rule to block path traversal attempts
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>