Description
The File Manager (wp-file-manager) plugin before 6.9 for WordPress allows remote attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code because it renames an unsafe example elFinder connector file to have the .php extension. This, for example, allows attackers to run the elFinder upload (or mkfile and put) command to write PHP code into the wp-content/plugins/wp-file-manager/lib/files/ directory. This was exploited in the wild in August and September 2020.
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Metasploit 1 module
-
WordPress File Manager Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution
exploit/multi/http/wp_file_manager_rce
Exploit-DB 2
- WP-file-manager v6.9 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload leading to RCE EDB-51224 · webapps · Apr 3, 2023 · verified
- WordPress Plugin Wp-FileManager 6.8 - RCE EDB-49178 · webapps · Dec 2, 2020
GitHub 12 repositories · most starred shown
-
mansoorr123/wp-file-manager-CVE-2020-25213 ★ 57 · Oct 10, 2020
https://medium.com/@mansoorr/exploiting-cve-2020-25213-wp-file-manager-wordpress-plugin-6-9-3f79241f0cd8
-
BLY-Coder/Python-exploit-CVE-2020-25213 ★ 6 · Jan 22, 2023
Python exploit for RCE in Wordpress
-
E1tex/Python-CVE-2020-25213 ★ 3 · Aug 2, 2023
Python Interactive Exploit for WP File Manager Vulnerability. The File Manager (wp-file-manager) plugin before 6.9 for WordPress allows remote attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code becau…
-
Maalfer/CVE-2020-25213-exploit ★ 2 · Oct 14, 2026
Exploit para explotar la vulnerabilidad CVE-2020-25213 en WPFileManager < 6.9
-
kakamband/WPKiller ★ 1 · Nov 13, 2020
CVE-2020-25213 Wordpress File Manager 6.7 Plugin 0day exploit
-
Cmadhushanka/wordpress-rce-vapt-cve-2020-25213 ★ 0 · May 9, 2026
Educational cybersecurity project demonstrating exploitation and mitigation of CVE-2020-25213 (WordPress File Manager Plugin RCE). Includes malware simulation, VAPT analysis, and security patch imple…
-
b1ackros337/CVE-2020-25213 ★ 0 · May 24, 2022
-
piruprohacking/CVE-2020-25213 ★ 0 · Apr 3, 2021
-
0000000O0Oo/Wordpress-CVE-2020-25213 ★ 0 · Mar 12, 2021
Will write a python script for exploiting this vulnerability
-
forse01/CVE-2020-25213-Wordpress ★ 0 · Feb 4, 2021
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Automated scanner template
A ready-made Nuclei template detects this vulnerability automatically. Vulnerabilities with public scanner templates are typically probed across the internet soon after the template appears — exposed systems should be patched first.
- WordPress File Manager Plugin - Remote Code Execution http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-25213.yaml
Source: projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates (MIT) — updated daily. Only links are listed.
References
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-file-manager/#developers
- https://github.com/w4fz5uck5/wp-file-manager-0day
- https://hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/wordpress-websites-attacked-via-file-manager-plugin-vulnerability-24048.html
- https://wordfence.com/blog/2020/09/700000-wordpress-users-affected-by-zero-day-vulnerability-in-file-manager-plugin/
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/2373068
- https://zdnet.com/article/millions-of-wordpress-sites-are-being-probed-attacked-with-recent-plugin-bug/
- https://seravo.com/blog/0-day-vulnerability-in-wp-file-manager/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160003/WordPress-File-Manager-6.8-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171650/WordPress-File-Manager-6.9-Shell-Upload.html