CVE-2025-54715: Barcode Scanner Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-54715 Overview

CVE-2025-54715 is a path traversal vulnerability in the Barcode Scanner with Inventory & Order Manager WordPress plugin developed by Dmitry V. (CEO of UKR Solution). The flaw affects the barcode-scanner-lite-pos-to-manage-products-inventory-and-orders plugin from an unspecified initial version through 1.9.0. An authenticated attacker with high privileges can traverse the file system and download arbitrary files from the WordPress host. The issue is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can read arbitrary files on the server, including WordPress configuration files that may expose database credentials and secret keys.

Affected Products

Barcode Scanner with Inventory & Order Manager plugin, versions up to and including 1.9.0
WordPress installations running the barcode-scanner-lite-pos-to-manage-products-inventory-and-orders plugin
Sites operated by Dmitry V. (UKR Solution) customers using the affected plugin

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-14 - CVE-2025-54715 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-54715

Vulnerability Analysis

The plugin exposes functionality that accepts a filename or path parameter and returns file contents to the requester. Because the plugin does not properly restrict or canonicalize the supplied path, an attacker can supply traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the intended directory. The result is an arbitrary file download primitive that reads any file the web server process can access.

Exploitation requires authenticated access with high privileges on the target WordPress site. Confidentiality impact is high because sensitive files, including wp-config.php, can be exfiltrated. There is no direct impact on integrity or availability from this vulnerability alone.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation and path canonicalization on a user-controlled file path parameter handled by the plugin. The plugin trusts input passed to its file download handler without enforcing that the resolved path stays within an allowlisted directory. Standard mitigations such as realpath() boundary checks or a fixed base directory with strict allowlisting were not applied.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over the network against the WordPress admin surface. An attacker who holds a privileged account, or who has compromised such an account, sends a crafted HTTP request to the plugin endpoint. The request includes a traversal payload in the file path parameter (for example, ....//....//wp-config.php). The plugin resolves and returns the file contents, giving the attacker access to secrets, credentials, and code outside the plugin directory. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54715

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to plugin endpoints under /wp-content/plugins/barcode-scanner-lite-pos-to-manage-products-inventory-and-orders/ containing ../, ..\, %2e%2e%2f, or encoded traversal sequences in query parameters
Web server access log entries showing successful 200 responses returning content for requests referencing files outside the plugin directory such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or .env
Unexpected outbound data transfers immediately after authenticated admin sessions interacting with the plugin

Detection Strategies

Deploy WAF rules that inspect query string and POST parameters for path traversal signatures targeting the plugin's file handler routes
Correlate WordPress audit logs of high-privilege user activity with abnormal file download volumes from plugin endpoints
Alert on any HTTP request where the resolved server-side path leaves the intended plugin directory tree

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress and web server logs to a centralized analytics platform and retain them for at least 90 days
Monitor privileged WordPress account logins, especially those originating from new IP addresses or user agents
Track integrity of wp-config.php and other sensitive files, and alert on reads by the web server process outside normal patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54715

Immediate Actions Required

Disable or uninstall the Barcode Scanner with Inventory & Order Manager plugin on any site running version 1.9.0 or earlier until a fixed release is confirmed
Rotate WordPress secret keys in wp-config.php, database credentials, and any API tokens that may have been exposed
Audit administrator and high-privilege accounts, remove unused accounts, and enforce multi-factor authentication

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the Patchstack advisory indicates the vulnerability affects versions through 1.9.0. Administrators should monitor the plugin's WordPress.org listing and vendor channels for a patched release, and upgrade as soon as one becomes available.

Workarounds

Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and plugin endpoints via IP allowlisting at the reverse proxy or WAF
Configure a WAF signature to block requests containing ../, ..\, or URL-encoded equivalents in parameters sent to the plugin's file handler
Run the web server process under a least-privilege account and apply filesystem ACLs that deny read access to sensitive files outside the WordPress webroot

bash

# Example WAF rule to block traversal patterns targeting the plugin
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-content/plugins/barcode-scanner-lite-pos-to-manage-products-inventory-and-orders/" \
    "chain,id:1005471,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'CVE-2025-54715 path traversal attempt'"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/)" "t:lowercase,t:urlDecodeUni"