CVE-2025-2056 is a path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-23 found in the WP Ghost (Hide My WP Ghost) – Security & Firewall plugin for WordPress, developed by johndarrel. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.4.01. The issue resides in the showFile function, which improperly sanitizes or validates user-supplied input used to access files on the server. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting specially crafted requests that traverse directories (using sequences like ../) to access files outside the intended directory scope. Because the vulnerability is exploitable without authentication or user interaction, it allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive data such as database credentials, configuration files, or other private information stored on the web server. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating a high severity with a network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a high impact on confidentiality. No known public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a critical risk for affected WordPress sites. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure means that users must rely on temporary mitigations or updates from the vendor once released. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure input validation and proper file access controls in WordPress plugins, especially those related to security and firewall functionalities.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-2056 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information due to the ability of attackers to read arbitrary files on the affected server. This can lead to exposure of database credentials, private keys, configuration files, or other sensitive data that can facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation, data theft, or site compromise. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, it can be exploited remotely by any attacker with network access to the vulnerable WordPress site, increasing the attack surface significantly. Organizations using the WP Ghost plugin risk data breaches, loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties, and potential downtime if attackers leverage the exposed information for further exploitation. The vulnerability could also be chained with other exploits to achieve full system compromise. Given the widespread use of WordPress globally and the popularity of security plugins, the potential impact is substantial across multiple industries and sectors.

To mitigate CVE-2025-2056, organizations should immediately check for updates or patches released by the plugin vendor and apply them as soon as they become available. Until a patch is released, administrators should consider disabling or uninstalling the WP Ghost plugin to eliminate exposure. Implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns (e.g., ../ sequences) in HTTP requests can provide temporary protection. Restricting file permissions on the web server to limit access to sensitive files reduces the risk of unauthorized file reads. Monitoring web server logs for suspicious requests targeting the showFile function or unusual file access attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct a thorough audit of their WordPress environment to identify any signs of compromise and ensure that backups are current and secure. Finally, educating site administrators about secure plugin management and the risks of outdated plugins is critical to prevent similar vulnerabilities.