CVE-2025-10176 is a high-severity vulnerability classified as CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal) affecting The Hack Repair Guy's Plugin Archiver plugin for WordPress, developed by tvcnet. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.0.4. The root cause is insufficient validation of file paths in the prepare_items function, which allows an authenticated attacker with Administrator-level privileges or higher to delete arbitrary files on the server hosting the WordPress instance. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker can specify file paths outside the intended directory scope, leading to deletion of critical files such as wp-config.php. The deletion of such files can disrupt the normal operation of the WordPress site and potentially enable remote code execution (RCE) if the attacker deletes files that trigger fallback behaviors or allows them to upload malicious files afterward. The vulnerability requires high privileges (administrator or above) and does not require user interaction, but it can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.2, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction needed. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on vendor updates or manual workarounds. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because WordPress is widely used, and plugins often have elevated privileges, making the exploitation of such path traversal vulnerabilities a critical risk to the hosting environment and data integrity.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to those relying on WordPress for their web presence, including e-commerce, government portals, and corporate websites. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary file deletion, causing denial of service by breaking the website or deleting critical configuration files. More critically, it can facilitate remote code execution, allowing attackers to gain persistent access, steal sensitive data, or pivot within the network. Given the GDPR and other data protection regulations in Europe, any breach resulting from this vulnerability could lead to severe legal and financial consequences. Organizations with limited patch management capabilities or those using outdated plugin versions are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the requirement for administrator privileges means that insider threats or compromised admin accounts can be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability, increasing the risk profile. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score demands urgent attention.

1. Immediate action should be to audit all WordPress installations for the presence of The Hack Repair Guy's Plugin Archiver plugin and verify the version in use. 2. Until an official patch is released, restrict administrator access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress files (e.g., wp-config.php) to detect unauthorized deletions or modifications promptly. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests that attempt path traversal patterns targeting the plugin's endpoints. 5. Regularly back up WordPress files and databases with secure, offsite storage to enable rapid restoration in case of file deletion or site compromise. 6. Monitor logs for unusual administrator activity or file deletion commands related to the plugin. 7. Once a patch is available, prioritize immediate application of the update. 8. Consider isolating WordPress instances in segmented network zones to limit lateral movement if exploitation occurs. 9. Educate administrators on the risks of plugin vulnerabilities and the importance of least privilege principles.