CVE-2025-14997
Published: 06 January 2026
Summary
CVE-2025-14997 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) 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 44.8th 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 RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-14997 is an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in the BuddyPress Xprofile Custom Field Types plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.2.8. The issue arises from insufficient file path validation in the 'delete_field' function, classified under CWE-22 (Path Traversal) with 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).
Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low complexity and no user interaction required. By manipulating file paths, they can delete arbitrary files on the server, potentially leading to remote code execution through the deletion of critical files such as wp-config.php.
Wordfence's threat intelligence advisory provides detailed analysis of the vulnerability (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/89a7a717-dac3-490e-89dd-268be8eb7bf5?source=cve). The vulnerable code is visible in the plugin's tag 1.2.8 at https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/bp-xprofile-custom-field-types/tags/1.2.8/src/handlers/class-field-upload-helper.php, and a patch is available via changeset 3430565 at https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3430565/bp-xprofile-custom-field-types. Security practitioners should update the plugin immediately to mitigate the risk.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-1079
Vulnerability details
The BuddyPress Xprofile Custom Field Types plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the 'delete_field' function in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.8. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers,…
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with Subscriber-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php).
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability enables exploitation of a public-facing WordPress plugin (T1190) via path traversal, directly allowing arbitrary file deletion (T1070.004).
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Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires timely patching of the insufficient file path validation flaw in the BuddyPress Xprofile Custom Field Types plugin, preventing arbitrary file deletion exploits.
Implements input validation at entry points to block path traversal manipulations in the delete_field function that enable arbitrary file deletions.
Scans for and remediates vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-14997 in WordPress plugins, identifying vulnerable versions for prompt flaw correction.