CVE-2025-3300 is a directory traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) affecting the WPMasterToolKit (WPMTK) – All in one plugin for WordPress, developed by ludwigyou. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.5.2. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with Administrator-level privileges or higher to manipulate file path inputs improperly, bypassing restrictions intended to confine file access within designated directories. As a result, the attacker can read and modify arbitrary files on the server hosting the WordPress instance. This can lead to exposure or alteration of sensitive data such as configuration files, credentials, or other critical system files. The vulnerability requires authentication at a high privilege level, which limits exploitation to users who already have significant access to the WordPress backend. However, given that WordPress is widely used and administrators often have broad permissions, the impact can be severe if exploited. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no official patches have been released as of the publication date. The vulnerability was reserved on April 4, 2025, and publicly disclosed on April 24, 2025. The plugin’s improper validation of pathname inputs is the root cause, allowing traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to escape restricted directories. This can compromise confidentiality and integrity of the server files, potentially leading to further compromise of the WordPress site or the underlying server environment.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the WPMasterToolKit plugin installed. Unauthorized reading or modification of server files can lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Integrity violations could allow attackers to inject malicious code or backdoors, facilitating persistent access or further lateral movement within the network. Availability impact is less direct but possible if critical system files are altered or deleted. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, which often use WordPress for public-facing websites or intranet portals, are at higher risk. The requirement for administrator-level access means that the threat is more likely to arise from insider threats or compromised admin accounts rather than external unauthenticated attackers. However, phishing or credential theft campaigns targeting administrators could enable exploitation. The lack of a patch increases the window of exposure, and the widespread use of WordPress in Europe amplifies the potential scale of impact.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting administrator account access through strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised credentials. 2. Conduct an audit of all WordPress installations within the organization to identify instances of the WPMasterToolKit plugin and verify the version in use. 3. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin if it is not critical to operations. 4. Implement strict file system permissions on the server to limit the ability of the web server process to read or write sensitive files outside the web root or plugin directories. 5. Monitor logs for unusual file access patterns or modifications, especially those initiated by administrator accounts. 6. Educate administrators about the risk of phishing and credential theft to prevent account compromise. 7. Prepare to deploy patches promptly once available and test updates in a staging environment before production rollout. 8. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block path traversal attempts, even from authenticated users, as an additional layer of defense.