Overview
This blog post presents a detailed analysis of the Wptobe-memberships plugin vulnerability in WordPress, identified as CVE-2025-9048. This security flaw, which affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 3.4.2, is of significant concern due to its potential to compromise systems or leak data. In the wrong hands, this vulnerability could be exploited by attackers, resulting in far-reaching impacts for businesses, organizations, and individuals using the plugin.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-9048
Severity: High (8.1 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Subscriber-level access)
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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- • No phone number
- • No email
- • No personal info
- • Anonymous aliases
- • End-to-end encrypted
Chat without a trace.
Product | Affected Versions
Wptobe-memberships Plugin for WordPress | Up to and including 3.4.2
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability resides in the del_img_ajax_call() function due to inadequate file path validation. An attacker, once authenticated with Subscriber-level access or above, can manipulate the file deletion operation to delete crucial files from the server. With the right file deleted, such as wp-config.php, the attacker can potentially execute remote code, leading to a full system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. Note, the example is presented in pseudocode:
POST /del_img_ajax_call HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "file_path": "/absolute/server/path/wp-config.php" }In this example, the attacker sends a POST request to the del_img_ajax_call function with a JSON payload that includes the absolute server path to the wp-config.php file. The function, due to insufficient file path validation, deletes the wp-config.php file, leaving the system vulnerable to further attacks.
Recommendations for Mitigation
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch. In the absence of a patch, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation by blocking or alerting on attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, maintaining least privilege access controls and regularly monitoring system logs for unusual activity can help prevent successful exploitation.
