CVE-2025-12161

High

Published: 08 November 2025

Published

08 November 2025

Modified

15 April 2026

KEV Added

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Patch

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CVSS Score v3.1 8.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Score 0.0028 51.5th percentile

Risk Priority 18 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-12161 is a high-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Wordpress (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 48.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-12161 is an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Smart Auto Upload Images plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.2.0. The issue stems from missing file type validation in the auto-image creation functionality, enabling attackers to upload arbitrary files to the affected site's server. Published on 2025-11-08, it carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and is linked to CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type).

Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low complexity and no user interaction required. Successful exploitation allows uploading malicious files, which may lead to remote code execution on the server.

Mitigation is available via an update to version 1.2.1, as detailed in the WordPress plugin trac repository changeset comparing tags 1.2.0 and 1.2.1. Further advisory information, including threat intelligence, is provided by Wordfence.

EU & UK References

🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-38354

Vulnerability details

The Smart Auto Upload Images plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation in the auto-image creation functionality in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.0. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers,…

with Contributor-level access and above, to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible.

CWE(s): CWE-434

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access

Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.

attack.mitre.org →

Why these techniques?

Arbitrary file upload in WordPress plugin enables exploitation of public-facing application for remote code execution.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-56975Shared CWE-434

CVE-2019-25580Shared CWE-434

CVE-2026-27636Shared CWE-434

CVE-2026-4809Shared CWE-434

CVE-2020-37090Shared CWE-434

CVE-2026-24729Shared CWE-434

CVE-2026-28289Shared CWE-434

CVE-2026-1730Shared CWE-434

CVE-2023-50897Shared CWE-434

CVE-2025-70457Shared CWE-434

Affected Assets

Wordpress

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inferred from references and description; NVD did not file a CPE for this CVE

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match

prevent

Directly addresses the missing file type validation by requiring checks on information inputs like uploaded files in the plugin's auto-image creation functionality.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match

prevent

Mandates identification, reporting, and correction of flaws such as this arbitrary file upload vulnerability through timely patching to version 1.2.1.

AC-6 Least Privilege partial match

prevent

Enforces least privilege to limit file upload access beyond essential roles, reducing the attack surface for Contributor-level authenticated users.