CVE-2025-7712: Madara Core Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-7712 Overview

CVE-2025-7712 is a critical arbitrary file deletion vulnerability affecting the Madara - Core plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient file path validation in the wp_manga_delete_zip() function across all versions up to and including 2.2.3. This security flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when critical files are deleted (such as wp-config.php).

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can leverage this path traversal vulnerability to delete arbitrary server files, potentially achieving remote code execution by removing critical WordPress configuration files.

Affected Products

• Madara - Core WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 2.2.3
• WordPress installations utilizing the vulnerable Madara theme/plugin ecosystem
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress configurations

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-17 - CVE-2025-7712 published to NVD
• 2025-07-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7712

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-22 (Path Traversal), a common weakness where the software uses external input to construct a pathname intended to identify a file or directory located underneath a restricted parent directory, but does not properly neutralize special elements that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location outside of that restricted directory.

The vulnerable wp_manga_delete_zip() function in the Madara - Core plugin fails to adequately validate file paths before performing deletion operations. This oversight allows attackers to craft malicious requests containing path traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory and target arbitrary files on the server filesystem.

The attack is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the WordPress installation can exploit this vulnerability. When an attacker successfully deletes the wp-config.php file, WordPress enters an installation state, allowing the attacker to reconfigure the site with their own database credentials and gain complete control over the installation.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-7712 lies in the wp_manga_delete_zip() function's failure to implement proper input sanitization and path canonicalization. The function accepts user-supplied file paths without verifying that the resolved path remains within the intended directory boundary. Key security controls that are absent include:

• Path canonicalization to resolve symbolic links and relative path components
• Whitelist validation of allowed file extensions and directories
• Verification that the resolved path starts with the expected base directory
• Authentication requirements for file deletion operations

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring no authentication and no user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable WordPress endpoint that handles the wp_manga_delete_zip() function.

The exploitation process involves:

1. Identifying a WordPress site running the vulnerable Madara - Core plugin (version 2.2.3 or earlier)
2. Crafting a malicious request with path traversal sequences targeting the file deletion endpoint
3. Including the target file path (e.g., ../../../wp-config.php) in the request parameters
4. The vulnerable function processes the request and deletes the specified file without proper validation

Upon successful deletion of wp-config.php, the attacker can navigate to the WordPress installation URL and complete a fresh installation with attacker-controlled database credentials, effectively achieving remote code execution.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7712

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected deletion or modification of critical WordPress files including wp-config.php, .htaccess, or core plugin files
• Web server access logs showing suspicious requests containing path traversal patterns (../, ..%2f, ..%252f) targeting Madara plugin endpoints
• WordPress installation wizard appearing unexpectedly on an established site
• Database connection errors following suspicious activity patterns

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests containing path traversal sequences targeting the Madara plugin endpoints
• Monitor file integrity using tools like OSSEC or Tripwire to detect unauthorized deletion of WordPress core files
• Analyze web server logs for patterns of requests to wp_manga_delete_zip or related Madara plugin AJAX handlers
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common path traversal attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all WordPress AJAX requests, particularly those interacting with file system operations
• Set up alerts for modifications to critical WordPress configuration files
• Implement real-time monitoring for the deletion of any files in the WordPress root directory
• Monitor for new WordPress installation attempts on production sites

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7712

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Madara - Core plugin to a patched version immediately if one is available from the vendor
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling the Madara - Core plugin until a fix is released
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns targeting the plugin
• Back up all critical WordPress files and database to enable rapid recovery if exploitation occurs

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the MangaBooth Product Page for security updates and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for remediation guidance. Apply the latest security patch from the vendor as soon as it becomes available.

Workarounds

• Implement application-layer filtering using a web application firewall to block requests containing path traversal patterns (../, encoded variants) to Madara plugin endpoints
• Restrict direct access to AJAX handlers and plugin files through .htaccess rules or web server configuration
• Move the wp-config.php file one directory level above the WordPress root (WordPress natively supports this configuration)
• Apply filesystem permissions to make critical files read-only where operationally feasible

# Configuration example - Restrict access to sensitive WordPress files
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root directory

# Block access to wp-config.php
<Files wp-config.php>
    Order Allow,Deny
    Deny from all
</Files>

# Block path traversal patterns
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]