CVE-2025-5393 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Alone – Charity Multipurpose Non-profit WordPress Theme developed by Bearsthemes. This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of file paths in the function alone_import_pack_restore_data(), present in all versions up to and including 7.8.3. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to perform arbitrary file deletion on the server hosting the WordPress site. Specifically, the vulnerability is categorized under CWE-73, which relates to external control of file names or paths. By exploiting this weakness, attackers can delete critical files such as wp-config.php, which contains sensitive configuration data including database credentials and authentication keys. The deletion of such files can lead to severe consequences including remote code execution (RCE), as the attacker could manipulate the environment to execute malicious code or disrupt the availability of the website. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.1, reflecting a critical severity level with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), high integrity impact (I:H), and high availability impact (A:H). This means the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, leading to high integrity and availability damage. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and potential impact make this a significant threat to WordPress sites using this theme. The absence of a patch at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for non-profit entities, charities, and other organizations relying on the Alone WordPress theme for their web presence. Successful exploitation can lead to deletion of critical files, resulting in website downtime, loss of data integrity, and potential unauthorized control over the web server. This can disrupt organizational operations, damage reputation, and lead to compliance issues under regulations like GDPR if personal data is compromised or service availability is affected. The ability to delete files without authentication increases the attack surface, making it easier for threat actors to target vulnerable sites. Additionally, the potential for remote code execution could allow attackers to pivot within the network, escalate privileges, or deploy malware, further exacerbating the impact. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of multipurpose themes, the threat could affect a broad range of organizations, including NGOs, educational institutions, and small to medium enterprises that may lack robust cybersecurity defenses.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Temporarily disabling or removing the Alone theme from production environments until a secure patch is released. 2) Implementing strict web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the alone_import_pack_restore_data() function or unusual file deletion attempts. 3) Restricting file system permissions on the web server to limit the theme's ability to delete critical files, ensuring the web server user has minimal privileges. 4) Monitoring server logs for anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected file deletions or access patterns. 5) Keeping WordPress core and all plugins/themes updated and subscribing to vendor security advisories for timely patch deployment once available. 6) Employing intrusion detection systems (IDS) and endpoint protection to detect and respond to potential post-exploitation activities. 7) Regularly backing up website data and configuration files to enable rapid restoration in case of compromise. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate containment, access control hardening, and proactive monitoring tailored to this specific vulnerability.