Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A vulnerable WordPress File Manager plugin version before 6.9 could let an unauthenticated attacker take control of a site by uploading and running server-side code. This was exploited in the wild and is listed in CISA KEV, so exposed legacy installations should be treated as potentially compromised.
Executive priority
Prioritize immediate remediation and compromise assessment for any affected public WordPress site. This is a known-exploited, unauthenticated RCE with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, making delayed action high business risk.
Technical view
CVE-2020-25213 is an unauthenticated remote code execution issue in wp-file-manager before 6.9. An unsafe elFinder example connector was exposed as PHP, enabling arbitrary PHP file upload/write and execution. The CVE maps to CWE-434 and carries CVSS 3.1 score 10.0.
Likely exposure
Internet-facing WordPress sites with the File Manager plugin wp-file-manager installed below version 6.9 are the primary exposure. Risk is highest where the plugin remained active during or after the 2020 exploitation window.
Exploitation context
The source bundle states exploitation occurred in August and September 2020. CISA KEV also lists CVE-2020-25213 as known exploited. Public reporting cited large-scale probing and attacks, but the bundle does not prove current active exploitation volume.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strong for historical exploitation and affected version scope, but the bundle does not provide current exploit telemetry. Avoid assuming only defacement risk; arbitrary PHP execution can support persistence, data theft, lateral movement, or infrastructure abuse after initial compromise.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade wp-file-manager to version 6.9 or later using vendor guidance.
- Disable or remove the plugin if it is not business-critical.
- Treat previously exposed vulnerable sites as potentially compromised.
- Review vendor advisories before making assumptions about complete remediation.
- After remediation, rotate credentials exposed to the affected WordPress host.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all WordPress sites for wp-file-manager installation and version.
- Confirm no active instance runs wp-file-manager below 6.9.
- Review web roots and plugin directories for unexpected PHP files.
- Check web server logs for suspicious plugin access during relevant exposure windows.
- Verify no unauthorized WordPress admin users or persistence mechanisms remain.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-25213 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 10 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:C/UI:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:C/UI:N3.96Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
10CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:C/UI:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-file-manager/#developersCVE reference
- https://github.com/w4fz5uck5/wp-file-manager-0dayCVE reference
- https://hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/wordpress-websites-attacked-via-file-manager-plugin-vulnerability-24048.htmlCVE reference
- https://wordfence.com/blog/2020/09/700000-wordpress-users-affected-by-zero-day-vulnerability-in-file-manager-plugin/CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2373068CVE reference
- https://zdnet.com/article/millions-of-wordpress-sites-are-being-probed-attacked-with-recent-plugin-bug/CVE reference
- https://seravo.com/blog/0-day-vulnerability-in-wp-file-manager/CVE reference
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-25213CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.