CVE-2025-49451: Aeroscroll Gallery Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-49451 Overview

CVE-2025-49451 is a Path Traversal vulnerability affecting the Aeroscroll Gallery WordPress plugin (Infinite Scroll Image Gallery & Post Grid with Photo Gallery) developed by yannisraft. This vulnerability allows attackers to traverse directory structures using specially crafted path sequences ('.../...//') to access files outside the intended directory, potentially exposing sensitive server-side information.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this path traversal vulnerability to read sensitive files from the server without any user interaction, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, and other confidential data.

Affected Products

• Aeroscroll Gallery – Infinite Scroll Image Gallery & Post Grid with Photo Gallery versions up to and including 1.0.13
• WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the aeroscroll-gallery plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-06-17 - CVE-2025-49451 published to NVD
• 2026-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49451

Vulnerability Analysis

This path traversal vulnerability (CWE-35) exists in the Aeroscroll Gallery plugin's file handling functionality. The plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input containing directory traversal sequences, allowing attackers to break out of the intended web directory structure. The vulnerability is accessible over the network without requiring authentication or any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for exposed WordPress installations.

The attack exploits improper input validation where the plugin does not adequately filter path traversal patterns such as '.../...//'. By manipulating file path parameters, an attacker can navigate to parent directories and access files that should be restricted, potentially including wp-config.php, .htaccess, and other sensitive configuration files.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and sanitization of file path parameters within the Aeroscroll Gallery plugin. The plugin accepts user-controlled input for file path operations without properly validating or canonicalizing the path, allowing special character sequences to traverse beyond the intended directory boundaries.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no authentication or privileges. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints. Since no user interaction is required, this vulnerability can be exploited directly against any WordPress site running the affected plugin version.

The vulnerability specifically leverages the '.../...//' traversal pattern to bypass basic path sanitization that may only filter standard ../ sequences. This technique allows attackers to read arbitrary files from the server file system, limited only by the web server process permissions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49451

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to WordPress containing path traversal patterns such as .../.../, ../, or URL-encoded variants like %2e%2e%2f
• Web server logs showing repeated requests attempting to access files outside the WordPress directory structure
• Access attempts to sensitive files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or .htaccess through plugin endpoints
• Anomalous file read operations originating from the WordPress installation directory

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP requests
• Monitor web server access logs for suspicious requests containing directory traversal sequences targeting the aeroscroll-gallery plugin
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files to detect unauthorized access
• Use WordPress security plugins that scan for known vulnerable plugin versions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all HTTP requests to WordPress plugin endpoints
• Configure alerts for requests containing path traversal indicators (.../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/)
• Monitor for unusual file access patterns on the web server, particularly reads of files outside the WordPress directory
• Regularly audit installed plugins against vulnerability databases like Patchstack

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49451

Immediate Actions Required

• Audit your WordPress installation to determine if the Aeroscroll Gallery plugin is installed
• If installed, check the version number against the affected range (versions through 1.0.13)
• Temporarily deactivate the Aeroscroll Gallery plugin until a patched version is available
• Review web server logs for any evidence of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

At the time of publication, organizations should check the WordPress plugin repository and the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest information on available security updates. Users should update to a version newer than 1.0.13 once a patched release becomes available.

Workarounds

• Deactivate the Aeroscroll Gallery plugin until a security patch is released
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns targeting the plugin
• Restrict file system permissions for the web server process to limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Consider using alternative gallery plugins that are not affected by this vulnerability
• Apply server-level input validation to filter malicious path traversal sequences

# Example .htaccess rules to help mitigate path traversal attempts
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file

# Block requests containing path traversal patterns
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (\.\./|\.\.) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>