CVE-2025-3740 Overview
CVE-2025-3740 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the School Management System for WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 93.1.0 and is exploitable through the page parameter. Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can include and execute arbitrary files on the server. The issue is tracked under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory). The vendor patched the issue in version 1.93.1, released on 02-07-2025.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can chain the LFI to dashboard view files to reset Super Administrator passwords in WordPress Multisite environments, achieving full privilege escalation and remote code execution.
Affected Products
- School Management System for WordPress plugin versions up to and including 93.1.0
- WordPress Multisite installations using the affected plugin
- WordPress single-site installations with Subscriber or higher user registration enabled
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-18 - CVE-2025-3740 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-3740
Vulnerability Analysis
The plugin accepts user-controlled input through the page parameter and passes it to a file inclusion function without adequate validation or sanitization. Attackers supply path traversal sequences or references to internal plugin view files to load arbitrary PHP files. Once included, the targeted PHP file executes in the context of the WordPress process.
The vulnerability requires authentication, but the minimum privilege is Subscriber. Subscriber accounts can be created freely on many WordPress sites that allow open registration. This lowers the bar to exploitation significantly compared to admin-only flaws.
The LFI can be chained with internal dashboard view files of the plugin. One documented chain rewrites the password of Super Administrator accounts in WordPress Multisite deployments. This converts a file inclusion primitive into a full account takeover and remote code execution path.
Root Cause
The page parameter is concatenated into a file path used by an include or require call without enforcing an allowlist of permitted view names. The plugin does not strip directory traversal characters or validate that the resolved path stays within an intended directory. This is a classic CWE-22 path traversal leading to LFI.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a plugin endpoint, supplying a manipulated page parameter that resolves to either a sensitive plugin view file or an attacker-uploaded file. If the WordPress instance allows image or other file uploads that land in a known path, the attacker uploads a polyglot or PHP payload and includes it. In Multisite environments, the attacker targets the password update view file to escalate to Super Administrator.
Technical details for the exploitation chain are documented in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3740
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to plugin endpoints containing path traversal sequences such as ../ or encoded variants %2e%2e%2f in the page parameter
- Unexpected creation or modification of WordPress administrator or Super Administrator accounts
- New PHP files in upload directories such as wp-content/uploads/ followed by inclusion requests referencing those paths
- Web server access logs showing Subscriber-level sessions requesting administrative plugin views
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server and WordPress access logs for requests to the plugin where the page parameter contains traversal characters, absolute paths, or references to dashboard view files
- Correlate authenticated low-privilege sessions with subsequent privilege changes in wp_users and wp_usermeta tables
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks traversal patterns in plugin query strings
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on any password change events for Super Administrator accounts in Multisite networks
- Monitor file integrity for the plugin directory and the WordPress uploads directory
- Track creation of Subscriber accounts followed within minutes by requests to plugin administrative endpoints
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3740
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the School Management System for WordPress plugin to version 1.93.1 or later immediately
- Audit all WordPress and Multisite administrator accounts for unauthorized additions or password changes
- Disable open user registration on affected sites until the patch is applied
- Review uploads directories for unexpected PHP files and remove them
Patch Information
The vendor released the fix in version 1.93.1 on 02-07-2025. Note the vendor renumbered the version scheme — 1.93.1 supersedes 93.1.0. Patch and changelog details are available on the Codecanyon School Management System listing.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to plugin endpoints via WAF rules that reject requests containing ../, null bytes, or absolute paths in the page parameter
- Remove or disable the plugin until it can be updated if patching is not immediately possible
- Enforce least privilege by limiting Subscriber registration and reviewing existing low-privilege accounts
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
