CVE-2020-25213

KEVWordPress File Manager Plugin Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

WordPress File Manager plugin contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows unauthenticated users to execute PHP code and upload malicious files on a target site.

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 vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

PublishedSep 9, 2020

Last modifiedJun 17, 2026

Added to KEVNov 3, 2021

Remediation dueMay 3, 2022

References

packetstormsecurity.com/files/160003/WordPress-File-Manager-6.8-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploitThird Party Advisory
packetstormsecurity.com/files/171650/WordPress-File-Manager-6.9-Shell-Upload.htmlExploitThird Party Advisory
github.com/w4fz5uck5/wp-file-manager-0dayExploitThird Party Advisory
hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/wordpress-websites-attacked-via-file-manager-plugin-vulnerability-24048.htmlBroken LinkThird Party Advisory
plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2373068Patch
seravo.com/blog/0-day-vulnerability-in-wp-file-manager/ExploitThird Party Advisory
wordfence.com/blog/2020/09/700000-wordpress-users-affected-by-zero-day-vulnerability-in-file-manager-plugin/ExploitThird Party Advisory
wordpress.org/plugins/wp-file-manager/ProductRelease Notes
zdnet.com/article/millions-of-wordpress-sites-are-being-probed-attacked-with-recent-plugin-bug/Press/Media Coverage
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-25213US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · Critical

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 1638 days
CVSS: 10.0 CRITICAL
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 97.3% · top 1% of all CVEs
Weakness: CWE-434
Attack vector: Network, remotely reachable
Preconditions: No privileges and no user interaction

Recommended actions

1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.