Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-54021 is a high-severity path traversal issue in the WordPress Simple File List plugin. An unauthenticated remote attacker may be able to download files outside the intended directory, creating a confidentiality risk for site data or server files.
Executive priority
Treat as a near-term remediation item for any public WordPress site using this plugin. The main business risk is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files, not site takeover based on the provided evidence.
Technical view
The sources describe CWE-22 in Mitchell Bennis Simple File List through version 6.1.14. CVSS 3.1 is 7.5: network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, no integrity or availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Simple File List package simple-file-list through version 6.1.14. No CPEs are provided, so validation depends on plugin inventory and installed version evidence.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The vulnerability is still operationally important because the CVSS vector indicates unauthenticated remote access with low attack complexity and high confidentiality impact.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to CVE metadata and Patchstack reference. The bundle identifies the weakness class, affected version range, CVSS vector, and absence from KEV, but it does not provide exploit details, fixed version text, or vendor workaround details.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Simple File List plugin and installed version.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for a confirmed fixed release or workaround.
- Prioritize remediation for internet-facing WordPress sites using versions through 6.1.14.
- Disable or remove affected plugin deployments if vendor-confirmed remediation is not available.
- Review exposed file-download functionality and reduce unnecessary public access.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether simple-file-list is installed on each WordPress instance.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it with through 6.1.14.
- Use the CVE and Patchstack entries to confirm applicability before remediation.
- Review web logs for unusual file-download patterns or path traversal indicators.
- Document remediation status and any compensating controls per site.
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-22: 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 lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-54021 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A: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.
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/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N3.93.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
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.