CVE-2025-23953
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to upload arbitrary files, including web shells, to web servers running the Innovative Solutions user files WordPress plugin. It affects all versions up to 2.4.2, potentially giving attackers full control over affected websites.
💻 Affected Systems
- Innovative Solutions user files WordPress plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server compromise leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or use as part of a botnet
Likely Case
Website defacement, data exfiltration, and backdoor installation for persistent access
If Mitigated
Limited impact if file uploads are disabled or strictly filtered
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple file upload exploitation with publicly available proof-of-concept
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.4.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/user-files/vulnerability/wordpress-user-files-plugin-2-4-2-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update WordPress user files plugin to version 2.4.3 or later via WordPress admin panel
2. Verify update completed successfully
3. Check for any unauthorized files uploaded during vulnerable period
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable file upload functionality
allTemporarily disable file uploads in the plugin settings
Web server file type restrictions
allConfigure web server to block execution of uploaded files in upload directories
nginx: location ~* \.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|php7|phps|phar|shtml|sh|cgi|pl|py|rb|js)$ { deny all; }
Apache: <FilesMatch "\.(php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|php7|phps|phar|shtml|sh|cgi|pl|py|rb|js)$">
Require all denied
</FilesMatch>
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable or remove the user files plugin entirely
- Implement strict WAF rules to block file uploads with dangerous extensions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel for plugin version. If user files plugin version is 2.4.2 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
WordPress: wp plugin list --name=user-files --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 2.4.3 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file uploads to wp-content/uploads/user-files/ directory
- POST requests to user files upload endpoints with suspicious file extensions
- Execution of PHP files from upload directories
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-content/plugins/user-files/upload endpoints
- Unusual outbound connections from web server following uploads
SIEM Query:
source="web_server" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/user-files/" OR uri_path="/wp-content/uploads/user-files/") AND http_method="POST" AND (file_extension="php" OR file_extension="phtml" OR file_extension="phar")