Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-8141

High

Published: 20 August 2025

Published
20 August 2025
Modified
15 April 2026
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0057 69.1th percentile
Risk Priority 18 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-8141 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 in the top 30.9% 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-2025-8141, published on 2025-08-20, is a vulnerability in the Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 3.2.4. It stems from insufficient file path validation in the delete_associated_files function, enabling arbitrary file deletion on the server. The issue is classified under CWE-22 (path traversal) with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely with low attack complexity, though it requires user interaction. By manipulating file paths, they can delete arbitrary files, which can lead to remote code execution if critical files like wp-config.php are targeted, granting severe impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Mitigation details are available in advisories such as the Wordfence threat intelligence report at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/fafd0159-25ab-430d-88ef-c4d09d23baa7?source=cve. The vulnerable code location is documented in the plugin's source at https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wpcf7-redirect/tags/3.2.3/classes/class-wpcf7r-save-files.php#L80.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

The Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the delete_associated_files function in all versions up to, and including, 3.2.4. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers…

more

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

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.
T1070.004 File Deletion Stealth
Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of their intrusion activity.
Why these techniques?

Direct path traversal in public WordPress plugin enables remote exploitation of web app (T1190) and arbitrary file deletion (T1070.004) leading to RCE.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v18.1

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-3666Shared CWE-22
CVE-2018-25308Shared CWE-22
CVE-2026-22460Shared CWE-22
CVE-2025-69377Shared CWE-22
CVE-2025-14850Shared CWE-22
CVE-2025-26752Shared CWE-22
CVE-2026-4350Shared CWE-22
CVE-2025-65792Shared CWE-22
CVE-2026-4758Shared CWE-22
CVE-2026-0704Shared CWE-22

Affected Assets

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

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Directly counters the insufficient file path validation in the delete_associated_files function by requiring validation of path inputs to block path traversal exploits.

prevent

Remediates the specific path traversal flaw in Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin versions up to 3.2.4 through timely flaw correction and patching.

prevent

Limits impact of arbitrary file deletion by enforcing least privilege on the web server process, preventing deletion of critical files like wp-config.php.

References