CVE-2025-69376 is a path traversal vulnerability identified in the vanquish User Extra Fields plugin for WordPress, which allows improper limitation of pathname input to restricted directories. This vulnerability arises when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that specifies file paths, enabling an attacker to traverse directories and access files outside the intended directory scope. The affected plugin version is up to 17.0, with no specific version details prior to that. Path traversal vulnerabilities can be exploited by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to access sensitive files such as configuration files, credentials, or other protected data on the server. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and could be targeted by attackers once exploit code becomes available. The absence of a CVSS score suggests the vulnerability has not yet been fully assessed, but the nature of path traversal vulnerabilities typically poses a significant risk to confidentiality and potentially integrity. The plugin is used within WordPress environments, which are widely deployed globally, increasing the potential attack surface. The vulnerability's exploitation does not explicitly require authentication or user interaction, which increases its risk profile. The lack of patch links indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for vigilance and interim mitigations.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is unauthorized access to sensitive files on the web server hosting the WordPress site using the vanquish User Extra Fields plugin. This can lead to disclosure of configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive information that could facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation, data theft, or site compromise. For organizations, this could result in data breaches, loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties, and operational disruption. Since WordPress powers a significant portion of websites globally, including many business and government sites, the scope of impact is broad. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain footholds in networks, leading to lateral movement or persistent access. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk of automated scanning and mass exploitation campaigns. The absence of known exploits currently limits immediate widespread impact, but the potential for rapid exploitation once exploit code is available is high. Organizations with sensitive data or critical web infrastructure using this plugin are particularly at risk.

Organizations should immediately inventory their WordPress installations to identify if the vanquish User Extra Fields plugin is in use and determine the version. Until an official patch is released, restrict file system permissions to limit the web server's access to only necessary directories, minimizing the impact of path traversal attempts. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests containing traversal sequences such as '../'. Disable or remove the plugin if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface. Once a patch or update is available from the vendor, apply it promptly. Additionally, ensure WordPress core and all plugins are kept up to date to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on file path handling and input validation. Educate development and operations teams about secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom plugins or themes.