CVE-2025-12637

HighRCE

Published: 11 November 2025

Published

11 November 2025

Modified

15 April 2026

KEV Added

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Patch

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

EPSS Score 0.0020 41.2th percentile

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

Summary

CVE-2025-12637 is a high-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) 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 at the 41.2th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); 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).

Threat & Defense at a Glance

What attackers do: exploitation maps to Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190) and 1 other technique. What defenders deploy: see the NIST 800-53 controls recommended below.

Threat & Defense Details

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match

prevent

Directly mitigates the arbitrary file upload vulnerability by enforcing validation of inputs to the process_theme function, preventing code injection via malicious files.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match

prevent

Requires timely remediation of the specific code injection flaw (CWE-94) in the Elastic Theme Editor plugin versions up to 0.0.3, eliminating the vulnerability through patching.

CM-11 User-installed Software partial match

prevent

Restricts installation of user-installed software like the vulnerable Elastic Theme Editor WordPress plugin, preventing deployment of systems affected by this CVE.

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 →

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation

Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.

attack.mitre.org →

Why these techniques?

Arbitrary file upload in WordPress plugin (public-facing web app) enables T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application). Low-privilege authenticated access (Subscriber+) to RCE facilitates T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation).

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

NVD Description

The Elastic Theme Editor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a dynamic code generation feature in the process_theme function in all versions up to, and including, 0.0.3. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with…

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

Deeper analysisAI

CVE-2025-12637 affects the Elastic Theme Editor plugin for WordPress, specifically in all versions up to and including 0.0.3. The vulnerability stems from a dynamic code generation feature in the process_theme function, enabling arbitrary file uploads. Classified under CWE-94 (Code Injection), it has 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), indicating high severity due to its potential for significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability remotely with low complexity and no user interaction required. By leveraging the flawed process_theme function, they can upload arbitrary files to the affected WordPress site's server, which may lead to remote code execution.

Advisories and related resources, including the Wordfence threat intelligence report and the plugin's source code in the WordPress plugin trac repository, provide details on the vulnerability. The Wordfence page (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e158a13d-5452-492a-875e-53791e1ff840?source=cve) documents the issue, while the source code (https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/elastic-theme-editor/trunk/editor/class-elastic-editor.php) highlights the process_theme function as the entry point; no specific patch details are outlined in the provided references.