CVE-2025-46527: LikeCoin Web3Press Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-46527 Overview

CVE-2025-46527 is a path traversal vulnerability in the LikeCoin Web3Press WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions of Web3Press up to and including 3.2.0. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can read arbitrary files on the underlying web server. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with minimal privileges can read sensitive files outside the plugin's intended directory scope, including WordPress configuration files that expose database credentials and secret keys.

Affected Products

LikeCoin Web3Press WordPress plugin (likecoin) versions up to and including 3.2.0
WordPress sites with the Web3Press decentralized publishing plugin installed
Deployments using Writing NFT functionality provided by Web3Press

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-23 - CVE-2025-46527 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46527

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an arbitrary file read caused by improper validation of user-supplied path components. Authenticated users with low-privileged accounts can supply crafted input that traverses directories outside the plugin's intended scope. Successful exploitation exposes file contents but does not grant write or execution capability, which limits impact to confidentiality.

The EPSS probability score of 0.488% places this vulnerability in the 40th percentile for likelihood of exploitation observation. No public proof-of-concept exploit and no CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing exist at time of writing.

Root Cause

The plugin fails to sanitize path segments before passing them to file read operations. Sequences such as ../ are not stripped or normalized, allowing directory traversal beyond the plugin's working directory. The underlying weakness maps to CWE-22 and is a common pattern in WordPress plugins that expose file-handling AJAX or REST endpoints without allowlisting.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress site and an authenticated session with low privileges. An attacker sends a crafted request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint with a manipulated file path parameter. The server resolves the path outside the intended directory and returns the file contents. Targets typically include wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, and log files that reveal secrets or user data. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46527

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or %2e%2e%2f targeting Web3Press plugin endpoints under /wp-content/plugins/likecoin/
Access log entries showing authenticated requests to plugin handlers returning file contents inconsistent with normal plugin behavior
Unexpected reads of sensitive files such as wp-config.php, .htaccess, or /etc/passwd correlated with plugin request activity

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that block URL-encoded and plain path traversal patterns in query parameters and POST bodies destined for the likecoin plugin
Enable WordPress audit logging to capture authenticated user actions and correlate file-read patterns with low-privileged accounts
Review PHP open_basedir violations and file access errors that indicate blocked traversal attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor for HTTP 200 responses containing file content signatures such as DB_PASSWORD or AUTH_KEY from plugin endpoints
Alert on repeated 4xx responses from the plugin path from a single authenticated session, indicating enumeration attempts
Track privilege escalation attempts and lateral use of credentials extracted through file read exposure

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46527

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress instances running the LikeCoin Web3Press plugin at version 3.2.0 or earlier and prioritize patching
Temporarily disable the Web3Press plugin on sites where an updated version is not yet available
Rotate WordPress secret keys, database credentials, and any API tokens that may have been exposed via file read

Patch Information

As of the last NVD modification on 2026-06-17, the CVE record indicates the issue affects Web3Press versions through 3.2.0. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the plugin repository for the fixed release and upgrade to the current patched version.

Workarounds

Restrict plugin access with role-based controls so only trusted users hold accounts capable of reaching the vulnerable endpoint
Configure PHP open_basedir to constrain file access to the WordPress installation directory and block traversal outside it
Apply web application firewall signatures that reject requests containing traversal sequences targeting the likecoin plugin path

bash

# Configuration example: constrain PHP file access via open_basedir
# Add to php.ini or virtual host configuration
open_basedir = "/var/www/html/:/tmp/"

# Example nginx rule to block traversal against the plugin path
location ~* /wp-content/plugins/likecoin/ {
    if ($args ~* "\.\./|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/") {
        return 403;
    }
}