Overview
The cybersecurity world has yet again been hit by a significant threat that potentially impacts millions of websites worldwide. The Restrict File Access plugin for WordPress, a popular tool used by web administrators to manage file access, has been identified as vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks. This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-7667, affects all versions up to and including 1.1.2 of the plugin. Given the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin, the severity of this issue cannot be overstated.
The vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server, potentially leading to remote code execution if crucial files like wp-config.php are deleted. With this level of access, an attacker can effectively take control of a site, posing significant risk to businesses and their customers.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-7667
Severity: High (CVSS: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Restrict File Access Plugin for WordPress | All versions up to and including 1.1.2
How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of a missing or incorrect nonce validation on the ‘restrict-file-access’ page of the WordPress plugin. This oversight makes it possible for attackers to launch Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, which trick the browser into executing malicious requests.
The attacker could craft a malicious link embedding the deletion of a crucial file. If a site administrator is then tricked into clicking this link, the server would process the request as legitimate, deleting the specified file. This could lead to a situation where the attacker deletes a critical file like wp-config.php, which could then potentially lead to remote code execution.
Conceptual Example Code
GET /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=rfab_delete_file&file=wp-config.php HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerablewebsite.comIn this conceptual example, the attacker crafts a GET request to delete the wp-config.php file. If the site administrator is tricked into executing this request, the server would process it as legitimate, leading to the deletion of the wp-config.php file.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor-provided patch promptly. If unable to do so immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that can detect and block CSRF attacks can serve as a temporary solution. Additionally, administrators should be vigilant about the links they click on, especially those coming from untrusted sources.
In the long run, regular audits of installed plugins and keeping them up-to-date, along with maintaining a robust cybersecurity infrastructure, can significantly reduce the risk of such vulnerabilities.