Overview
The cybersecurity world is witnessing a critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-2328, that affects the popular WordPress plugin, Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7. This vulnerability exposes websites using this plugin to potential system compromise or data leakage. The vulnerability is especially critical because it allows an unauthenticated attacker to delete arbitrary files on the server by exploiting insufficient file path validation in a particular function of the plugin.
Given the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin in question, this vulnerability can potentially put thousands of websites and their data at risk. It is crucial for administrators to understand this vulnerability, assess their systems for exposure, and apply appropriate mitigation measures.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-2328
Severity: High (8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
No phone number, email, or personal info required.
Product | Affected Versions
Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 Plugin | up to and including 1.3.8.7
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from insufficient file path validation in the ‘dnd_remove_uploaded_files’ function of the plugin. As a result, unauthenticated attackers can manipulate the file paths of uploaded files and add arbitrary file paths such as ‘../../../../wp-config.php. This makes it possible to execute remote code when an Administrator deletes the message. The presence of the Flamingo plugin is a prerequisite for exploiting this vulnerability.
Conceptual Example Code
This is a conceptual representation of how an attacker might exploit the vulnerability.
POST /wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/modules/dnd-upload-module/dnd_cf7_upload.php HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=----WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="../../../../wp-config.php"
Content-Type:
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW--In this example, the attacker attempts to upload a file with a manipulated file path pointing to the ‘wp-config.php’ file, a critical WordPress configuration file.
Mitigation and Recommendation
The vulnerability can be mitigated by applying the patch provided by the vendor. As an interim solution, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used to monitor and block malicious requests. It is also recommended to disable or remove the Flamingo plugin if it is not in active use, as its presence is required for this exploit. Regularly updating all plugins and WordPress core is also crucial in preventing such vulnerabilities.