CVE-2025-3671: WPGYM WordPress Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-3671 Overview

CVE-2025-3671 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the WPGYM - WordPress Gym Management System plugin for WordPress. The flaw resides in the page parameter and impacts all versions up to and including 67.7.0. Authenticated attackers holding Subscriber-level access or above can include and execute arbitrary files on the server, enabling execution of PHP code contained in those files. Researchers documented a chained exploitation path that loads plugin dashboard view files, including one that can update Super Administrator passwords in WordPress Multisite deployments. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory).

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with minimal privileges can achieve remote code execution and escalate to Super Administrator in Multisite environments.

Affected Products

WPGYM - WordPress Gym Management System plugin (all versions ≤ 67.7.0)
WordPress sites running the plugin with Subscriber-level or higher accounts enabled
WordPress Multisite installations using the plugin (privilege escalation impact)

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-16 - CVE-2025-3671 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3671

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper validation of the page parameter inside the WPGYM plugin's dashboard routing logic. The plugin uses the parameter value to construct a file path that is then included by PHP without sufficient sanitization or allow-listing. An attacker authenticated as a Subscriber, which is the lowest standard WordPress role, can supply arbitrary path values to load files outside the plugin's intended view directory. Any included file is interpreted by the PHP engine, which converts file inclusion into arbitrary code execution when attacker-controlled content reaches the server. Uploaded image files or other content containing embedded PHP can therefore be executed by referencing them through the vulnerable parameter.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing path validation on user-supplied input to a PHP include or require statement. The plugin trusts the page parameter to identify a dashboard view file rather than mapping it against an internal allow-list. This pattern matches CWE-22, where directory traversal sequences or absolute paths bypass the intended directory restriction.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploited over the network through authenticated HTTP requests. An attacker first registers or compromises any Subscriber-level account. The attacker then issues a request that supplies a crafted value to the page parameter pointing at an arbitrary file path. In Multisite environments, the chained exploit targets a specific dashboard view that updates the password of Super Administrator accounts, achieving full administrative takeover. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3671

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected modifications to wp_users records, particularly password hash changes for Super Administrator accounts in Multisite installations
HTTP requests containing the page parameter with directory traversal sequences such as ../ or absolute filesystem paths
Newly uploaded image or media files whose contents include PHP tags such as <?php
Web server access logs showing Subscriber-authenticated sessions accessing plugin dashboard endpoints they would not normally use

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server and PHP error logs for include() or require() warnings referencing paths derived from query strings
Deploy WAF rules that flag the WPGYM page parameter when it contains path traversal characters or references to files outside the plugin directory
Monitor WordPress audit logs for password changes affecting super-admin users that are not initiated from administrative IPs

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on uploads to wp-content/uploads containing PHP open tags regardless of file extension
Track creation of new Subscriber accounts followed shortly by requests to plugin administrative endpoints
Forward WordPress and PHP-FPM logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation across sessions and source addresses

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3671

Immediate Actions Required

Disable or uninstall the WPGYM plugin until a patched release is deployed and verified
Audit all WordPress user accounts and remove unrecognized Subscriber-level registrations
Rotate passwords for all Super Administrator and Administrator accounts, especially in Multisite installations
Review uploaded media for files containing embedded PHP and remove any suspicious artifacts

Patch Information

No patched version was identified in the enriched CVE data at the time of writing. All versions up to and including 67.7.0 remain vulnerable. Operators should consult the vendor product page on CodeCanyon and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for the latest fix availability.

Workarounds

Restrict open user registration to prevent unauthenticated attackers from obtaining Subscriber accounts
Configure web server rules to reject requests to plugin endpoints when the page parameter contains ../, null bytes, or absolute paths
Use PHP open_basedir restrictions to confine file inclusion to the plugin and WordPress core directories
Disable PHP execution within wp-content/uploads using web server configuration

bash

# Example Apache configuration to block PHP execution in uploads
<Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/uploads">
    <FilesMatch "\.(php|phtml|php5|php7|phar)$">
        Require all denied
    </FilesMatch>
</Directory>

# Example ModSecurity rule to block traversal in the page parameter
SecRule ARGS:page "@rx (\.\./|\.\.\\|/etc/|wp-config)" \
    "id:1003671,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'WPGYM LFI attempt (CVE-2025-3671)'"