CVE-2025-5014 Overview
CVE-2025-5014 is an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in the Home Villas | Real Estate WordPress Theme. The flaw resides in the wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete function, which fails to validate file paths before deletion. All versions up to and including 2.8 are affected.
Authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher can delete arbitrary files on the server. Deleting sensitive files such as wp-config.php can lead to remote code execution by forcing WordPress into a setup state that an attacker can hijack. The issue is tracked under [CWE-22] Path Traversal.
Critical Impact
Subscriber-level attackers can delete arbitrary server files, including wp-config.php, enabling site takeover and remote code execution.
Affected Products
- Home Villas | Real Estate WordPress Theme — all versions through 2.8
- WordPress installations using the vulnerable cs-class-widget-data.php component
- Sites permitting Subscriber-level account registration
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-02 - CVE-2025-5014 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-5014
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing path validation in the wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete function defined in include/backend/cs-widgets/import/cs-class-widget-data.php. The function accepts a file path from the authenticated request and passes it to a deletion routine without normalizing or restricting the path to an allowed directory.
An authenticated attacker with Subscriber privileges can supply a relative path such as ../../wp-config.php to remove critical WordPress files. Removing wp-config.php causes the next request to the site to trigger the WordPress installation wizard. An attacker reaching the wizard first can reconfigure the database connection to an attacker-controlled server, install malicious plugins, and achieve remote code execution.
The attack requires only low privileges and no user interaction. It is exploitable over the network through standard WordPress AJAX or admin-ajax endpoints exposed by the theme.
Root Cause
The function does not enforce a path whitelist, does not call realpath() against an allowed base directory, and does not verify the capability of the requesting user beyond basic authentication. Combined, these gaps allow path traversal sequences to escape the intended widget import directory.
Attack Vector
An attacker registers or compromises a Subscriber account, then issues a crafted request to the theme endpoint that invokes wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete with a traversal payload pointing at wp-config.php or another sensitive file. After deletion, the attacker triggers WordPress reinstallation to seize administrative control.
No verified public exploit code is available. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5014
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected deletion or absence of wp-config.php, .htaccess, or core WordPress PHP files
- HTTP requests to admin-ajax.php invoking the wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete action from low-privileged accounts
- Path parameters containing ../ traversal sequences targeting paths outside the theme directory
- WordPress entering the installation wizard state unexpectedly on a production site
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for POST requests to theme endpoints containing wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete and traversal patterns
- Monitor file integrity on the WordPress document root, alerting on deletion of wp-config.php and other critical files
- Audit Subscriber-level account activity for AJAX calls that should be restricted to administrators
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging for file system operations initiated by non-admin users
- Forward web server and PHP error logs to a centralized analytics platform for traversal pattern matching
- Alert on the creation of new administrator accounts immediately following file deletion events
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5014
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or remove the Home Villas | Real Estate WordPress Theme until a patched version is installed
- Disable open user registration or restrict new Subscriber accounts on affected sites
- Restore wp-config.php from backup and rotate database credentials if deletion is suspected
- Review administrator accounts and remove any unauthorized users
Patch Information
No fixed version is identified in the available advisory data. Site operators should consult the theme vendor and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for patch availability. Until a fix ships, treat all installations of version 2.8 and earlier as vulnerable.
Workarounds
- Apply a web application firewall rule that blocks traversal sequences in requests to theme AJAX actions
- Set restrictive filesystem permissions so the PHP process cannot delete files outside the theme upload directory
- Remove or rename cs-class-widget-data.php if the widget import feature is not in use
- Require capability checks above subscriber for any AJAX action exposed by the theme via a custom plugin filter
# Example WAF rule blocking traversal in the vulnerable AJAX action
# ModSecurity rule pattern
SecRule ARGS:action "@streq wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete" \
"id:1005014,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
chain,msg:'CVE-2025-5014 traversal attempt'"
SecRule ARGS "@rx \.\./" "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
