CVE-2025-8081: Elementor File Read Vulnerability

CVE-2025-8081 Overview

CVE-2025-8081 is an arbitrary file read vulnerability affecting the Elementor plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 3.30.2. The flaw resides in the Import_Images::import() function, which applies insufficient controls to the supplied filename. Authenticated attackers with administrator-level access or above can leverage the flaw to read the contents of arbitrary files on the underlying server. Successful exploitation may expose sensitive files such as wp-config.php, private keys, and system credentials. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-22: Path Traversal.

Critical Impact
Authenticated administrators can read arbitrary server files through the Elementor template import routine, exposing WordPress secrets and credentials that enable further compromise.

Affected Products

Elementor Website Builder (free) for WordPress — all versions through 3.30.2
WordPress sites running the vulnerable Elementor plugin
Multi-site WordPress installations where Elementor is network-activated

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-8081 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-8081

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in includes/template-library/classes/class-import-images.php within the Import_Images::import() method. When Elementor processes an image import request, it reads the file located at the tmp_name path supplied in the attachment array. The pre-patch code invoked Utils::file_get_contents( $attachment['tmp_name'] ) without first confirming the path pointed to a genuine PHP upload. An authenticated administrator submitting a crafted request can substitute tmp_name with an arbitrary absolute path such as /etc/passwd or /var/www/html/wp-config.php. The plugin then returns or processes the file contents through the import workflow.

While the required administrator privilege limits opportunistic exploitation, the impact is significant on multi-tenant WordPress installations, managed hosts, and environments where administrator accounts are delegated to lower-trust roles. Exposed WordPress configuration files disclose database credentials, authentication salts, and secret keys used to sign session cookies.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing validation that the file targeted by tmp_name originated from a legitimate HTTP upload. PHP provides is_uploaded_file() specifically to distinguish uploaded temporary files from arbitrary filesystem paths. The vulnerable code omitted this check, allowing attacker-controlled input to dictate which file the plugin reads.

Attack Vector

An attacker must first obtain administrator credentials or higher through phishing, credential stuffing, or account compromise. The attacker then issues a request to the Elementor template import endpoint with a manipulated attachment array. The tmp_name field is set to the absolute path of the target file on the server. The plugin reads that file and returns its contents through the import response.

php

		if ( isset( $attachment['tmp_name'] ) ) {
			// Used when called to import a directly-uploaded file.
			$filename = $attachment['name'];
+			$file_content = false;

-			$file_content = Utils::file_get_contents( $attachment['tmp_name'] );
+			// security validation in case the tmp_name has been tampered with
+			if ( is_uploaded_file( $attachment['tmp_name'] ) ) {
+				$file_content = Utils::file_get_contents( $attachment['tmp_name'] );
+			}
		} else {
			// Used when attachment information is passed to this method.
			if ( ! empty( $attachment['id'] ) ) {

Source: Elementor Security Patch Commit. The patch adds an is_uploaded_file() guard so that only genuine PHP-managed upload temporary files are read.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-8081

Indicators of Compromise

Requests to the Elementor template import endpoint (admin-ajax.php with Elementor template library actions) containing suspicious tmp_name values referencing absolute paths such as /etc/passwd or paths ending in wp-config.php.
Web server access logs showing administrator-authenticated POST requests to Elementor import handlers followed by outbound egress of unusual size.
Unexpected reads of sensitive server files (wp-config.php, .env, SSH private keys) recorded by filesystem audit tooling under the web server user.

Detection Strategies

Enable file integrity monitoring (FIM) on WordPress configuration and secret files, and alert on reads by the PHP-FPM or Apache worker process outside expected code paths.
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that inspects Elementor import parameters and blocks tmp_name values not matching the PHP upload_tmp_dir prefix.
Correlate WordPress audit-log entries for administrator template imports with subsequent anomalous file access using centralized logging.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track the installed Elementor plugin version across all WordPress hosts and alert when versions at or below 3.30.2 are detected.
Monitor administrator account activity for unusual template import operations, especially from new IP addresses or user agents.
Watch for outbound HTTP responses of unusual sizes from /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php following Elementor requests, indicating potential file exfiltration.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-8081

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade the Elementor plugin to a version later than 3.30.2 that includes the is_uploaded_file() validation from the security patch.
Rotate any WordPress secrets (AUTH_KEY, SECURE_AUTH_KEY, database passwords) if the site ran a vulnerable version and administrator accounts were shared or compromised.
Audit WordPress administrator accounts, remove unused accounts, and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) on remaining ones.

Patch Information

The upstream fix is available in the Elementor Git repository via commit 6af3551ee4213fb4003338743e22f41aa2a09c01 and in WordPress plugin changeset 3332233. Wordfence has published corresponding threat intelligence in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report. Update to the fixed Elementor release through the WordPress admin dashboard or via WP-CLI.

Workarounds

Restrict the WordPress administrator role to a minimal number of trusted users until the plugin can be patched.
Configure PHP open_basedir to constrain readable directories to the WordPress document root and upload temporary directory.
Deploy WAF rules that block requests to Elementor import endpoints containing absolute paths in the tmp_name parameter.

bash

# Update Elementor via WP-CLI to remediate CVE-2025-8081
wp plugin update elementor
wp plugin get elementor --field=version

# Verify installed version is greater than 3.30.2
# Optional: harden PHP by restricting readable paths
# php.ini: open_basedir = /var/www/html:/tmp