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File Manager CVE-2020-25213

CRITICAL
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434)
2020-09-09 cve@mitre.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File type validation, storage isolation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Command and Control, Persistence

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could upload malicious files that can be executed on the server by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: In CISA KEV with patch available.
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) Patch available 97.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

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. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Validate file types server-side, store uploads outside webroot, use random filenames, scan for malware.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Unrestricted File Upload (CWE-434), which allows attackers to upload malicious files that can be executed on the server. 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. Affected products include: Filemanagerpro File Manager. Version information: before 6.9.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Added to CISA KEV
Jul 14, 2026 - 04:22 CISA
CVE Published
Sep 09, 2020 - 16:15 nvd
CRITICAL 9.8

DescriptionNVD

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.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
97.3%
Top 0% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV Yes
Public POC Yes
EPSS 97.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
In CISA KEV with patch available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Immediate
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

231
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: +50
EPSS: +97
CVSS: +49
PoC: +20
Weaponized: +15
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Malicious file upload attacks exploit insufficient validation when web applications accept user-provided files.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:filemanagerpro:file_manager:*:*:*:*:free:wordpress:*:*
CVE-2023-6846 HIGH POC
8.8 Feb 05

Remote code execution in the WordPress File Manager Pro plugin (versions up to and including 8.3.4) allows authenticated

CVE-2023-6825 CRITICAL POC
9.9 Mar 13

The File Manager and File Manager Pro plugins for WordPress are vulnerable to Directory Traversal in versions up to, and

CVE-2026-6382 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Jul 06

OS command injection in a family of popular WordPress file-manager plugins - FileOrganizer (before 1.1.9), Advanced File

CVE-2026-17540 HIGH POC
8.8 Aug 10

Missing authorization controls in the File Manager WordPress plugin before version 6.9.1 allow any authenticated user -

CVE-2026-85081 HIGH POC
7.5 Sep 26

Cross-site scripting in the WordPress File Manager plugin (below 8.0.5), FileOrganizer (below 1.2.1) and File Manager Pr

CVE-2026-17541 HIGH POC
7.5 Aug 10

Unauthenticated information disclosure in the File Manager WordPress plugin before 6.9.1 exposes a REST API route withou

CVE-2026-17542 HIGH POC
7.5 Aug 10

Missing capability checks in the File Manager WordPress plugin before version 6.9.1 expose the entire WordPress installa

CVE-2020-24312 HIGH POC
7.5 Aug 26

mndpsingh287 WP File Manager v6.4 and lower fails to restrict external access to the fm_backups directory with a .htacce

CVE-2023-5907 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Dec 11

The File Manager WordPress plugin before 6.3 does not restrict the file managers root directory, allowing an administrat

CVE-2026-19708 MEDIUM POC
5.9 Sep 26

Unauthenticated information disclosure in the File Manager WordPress plugin (versions 7.2.2 through before 8.0.5) lets r

CVE-2024-1538 HIGH
8.8 Mar 21

The File Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including,

CVE-2021-24177 MEDIUM POC
5.4 Apr 05

In the default configuration of the File Manager WordPress plugin before 7.1, a Reflected XSS can occur on the endpoint

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