CVE-2020-25213
WordPress File Manager Plugin Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 3 May 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
The File Manager (wp-file-manager) plugin before 6.9 for WordPress allows remote attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code because it renames an unsafe example elFinder connector file to have the .php extension. This, for example, allows attackers to run the elFinder upload (or mkfile and put) command to write PHP code into the wp-content/plugins/wp-file-manager/lib/files/ directory. This was exploited in the wild in August and September 2020.
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 97.33% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 2 December 2020
- CISA KEV
- Listed 3 November 2021 · due 3 May 2022
- Weakness
- CWE-434
- Affected
- filemanagerpro/file manager
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 97.3% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-25213
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160003/WordPress-File-Manager-6.8-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171650/WordPress-File-Manager-6.9-Shell-Upload.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/w4fz5uck5/wp-file-manager-0dayExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/wordpress-websites-attacked-via-file-manager-plugin-vulnerability-24048.htmlBroken Link, Third Party Advisory
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2373068Patch
- https://seravo.com/blog/0-day-vulnerability-in-wp-file-manager/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://wordfence.com/blog/2020/09/700000-wordpress-users-affected-by-zero-day-vulnerability-in-file-manager-plugin/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-file-manager/#developersProduct, Release Notes
- https://zdnet.com/article/millions-of-wordpress-sites-are-being-probed-attacked-with-recent-plugin-bug/Press/Media Coverage
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160003/WordPress-File-Manager-6.8-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171650/WordPress-File-Manager-6.9-Shell-Upload.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/w4fz5uck5/wp-file-manager-0dayExploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/wordpress-websites-attacked-via-file-manager-plugin-vulnerability-24048.htmlBroken Link, Third Party Advisory
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2373068Patch
- https://seravo.com/blog/0-day-vulnerability-in-wp-file-manager/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://wordfence.com/blog/2020/09/700000-wordpress-users-affected-by-zero-day-vulnerability-in-file-manager-plugin/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-file-manager/#developersProduct, Release Notes
- https://zdnet.com/article/millions-of-wordpress-sites-are-being-probed-attacked-with-recent-plugin-bug/Press/Media Coverage
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-25213US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.