Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is continually evolving, and vulnerabilities can emerge from the most unexpected corners. One such vulnerability, CVE-2025-7645, has been identified in the Extensions For CF7 plugin, a widely used plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability is significant because it allows unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage. This blog post aims to provide an in-depth analysis of this vulnerability, detailing how it works, the impact it can have, and how to mitigate its effects.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-7645
Severity: High (8.1 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Arbitrary file deletion with potential for remote code execution and system compromise
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
WordPress Extensions For CF7 Plugin | Versions up to and including 3.2.8
How the Exploit Works
This vulnerability originates from insufficient file path validation in the ‘delete-file’ field of the Extensions For CF7 plugin for WordPress. When an administrator deletes a submission, it allows an unauthenticated attacker to delete arbitrary files on the server. This deletion could include critical files such as wp-config.php, which would lead to remote code execution.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a hypothetical example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This example uses a HTTP request with a malicious payload aimed at deleting a specific file.
POST /wp-content/plugins/Extensions-For-CF7/delete-file.php HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
file_path=../wp-config.phpIn this example, the ‘file_path’ parameter is manipulated to point to the ‘wp-config.php’ file, which is a critical configuration file for WordPress. If the request is successful, the ‘wp-config.php’ file is deleted, leading to a potential remote code execution vulnerability.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, users of the affected plugin are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. Furthermore, limiting the permissions of the web server and regularly backing up critical files can also help reduce the impact of this vulnerability.
It is essential to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities and to ensure that all software, including plugins, is regularly updated to the latest version. Doing so can greatly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.