CVE-2025-53260: File Manager Plugin RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-53260 Overview

CVE-2025-53260 is an Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability affecting the File Manager Plugin For WordPress by getredhawkstudio. This critical security flaw allows attackers to upload a web shell to the web server, potentially leading to complete server compromise. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type).

Critical Impact

Attackers with high-privileged access can upload malicious web shells to WordPress servers, enabling remote code execution, data exfiltration, and full server compromise with scope change affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

• File Manager Plugin For WordPress versions through 7.5
• WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress sites

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-06-27 - CVE-2025-53260 published to NVD
• 2025-06-30 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-53260

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper file upload validation in the File Manager Plugin For WordPress. The plugin fails to adequately restrict the types of files that can be uploaded to the server, allowing authenticated attackers with elevated privileges to upload files with dangerous types, including executable scripts such as PHP web shells.

The attack requires network access and high-level privileges within the WordPress installation, but requires no user interaction. The scope change indicator demonstrates that exploitation can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component itself, potentially compromising the underlying web server and other hosted applications.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-53260 is insufficient file type validation during the upload process. The File Manager Plugin For WordPress through version 7.5 does not properly enforce restrictions on uploaded file extensions or MIME types, enabling the bypass of intended security controls. This allows attackers to upload executable files disguised as legitimate content or directly upload malicious scripts that can be executed by the web server.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-accessible and requires the attacker to have high-privileged access to the WordPress installation (such as administrator or editor roles with file upload capabilities). Once authenticated, the attacker can:

1. Access the file manager interface within WordPress
2. Upload a malicious PHP web shell bypassing file type restrictions
3. Navigate to or execute the uploaded web shell
4. Gain remote code execution on the underlying server

The vulnerability enables a scope change, meaning successful exploitation affects not just the WordPress application but potentially the entire hosting environment, other websites on shared hosting, and backend systems.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53260

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected PHP files appearing in WordPress upload directories or plugin folders
• Unusual web server access logs showing requests to suspicious PHP files in upload paths
• Anomalous outbound network connections from the web server
• Modified WordPress core files or unexpected file permission changes

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress upload directories for new PHP or executable file uploads
• Implement file integrity monitoring on WordPress installations
• Review web server access logs for requests to unusual file paths within the wp-content directory
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block web shell upload attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for file operations within WordPress
• Configure alerts for any PHP file creation in upload directories
• Monitor for anomalous process execution patterns on web servers
• Implement real-time file change detection for critical WordPress directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53260

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the File Manager Plugin For WordPress to a patched version when available
• Audit existing files in WordPress upload directories for suspicious content
• Restrict file manager plugin access to only essential administrative users
• Implement additional server-side controls to prevent execution of uploaded files
• Consider temporarily disabling the vulnerable plugin until a patch is released

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Advisory for the latest patch information and remediation guidance from the security researchers who documented this vulnerability.

Organizations should monitor for updates from getredhawkstudio and apply security patches immediately upon release.

Workarounds

• Configure web server to deny PHP execution in upload directories by adding .htaccess rules or equivalent server configurations
• Implement allowlist-based file type restrictions at the web server level
• Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block suspicious file upload attempts
• Restrict plugin access through WordPress role management to minimize attack surface

# Apache .htaccess configuration to prevent PHP execution in uploads
# Add to wp-content/uploads/.htaccess
<FilesMatch "\.(?:php|phtml|php[3-7]|phar)$">
    Require all denied
</FilesMatch>

# Alternative for Nginx - add to server configuration
location ~* /wp-content/uploads/.*\.php$ {
    deny all;
}