Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach plugin file endpoint unauthenticated
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DeliverySubmit path-traversal filename parameter
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ExploitEscape plugin directory via ../ sequences
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ExecutionDelete critical WordPress file
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ImpactSite outage or forced reinstall
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Requires only that the vulnerable Simple File List plugin (version 6.3.11 or earlier) is installed and active on a network-reachable WordPress site; per the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) no authentication, no user interaction, and no special non-default configuration are needed. The limiting factors are therefore narrow: exploitation depends on the specific plugin being present and its file-handling endpoint being reachable, and on target files being deletable by the web server's user context. Impact severity in practice depends on which files the attacker targets (e.g. deleting wp-config.php is far more damaging than deleting an uploaded asset). |
| Impact | This is a genuine high-priority issue for WordPress sites running the affected plugin. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) is internally consistent with the description's 'Unauthenticated' label: network-reachable, low complexity, no privileges and no user interaction, meaning a remote attacker can trigger it directly against a default-reachable endpoint. The scope change (S:C) plus A:H reflects that a path-traversal file deletion (CWE-22) can reach files outside the plugin's own directory, and deleting a file such as wp-config.php can effectively take a WordPress site offline or force it into a reinstall state. The main mitigating signal is the absence of exploitation evidence: there is no EPSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no public POC in the provided data, so this is not yet confirmed as actively exploited. Note that the official vector records I:N despite the vulnerability being an arbitrary file *deletion*, which is arguably an integrity impact as well as an availability one - defenders should treat the destructive potential as broader than A:H alone implies. Overall: real, easily exploitable flaw worth prompt patching, but currently rated on theoretical ease rather than observed in-the-wild activity. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote, unauthenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the Simple File List plugin's file-handling endpoint on a target WordPress site, supplying a traversal sequence (e.g. ../../) in a filename parameter. Because no authentication or user interaction is required, the request deletes an arbitrary file outside the plugin's intended directory - for example wp-config.php - disrupting or disabling the site. No public exploit code was identified in the provided data, but the low attack complexity makes weaponization straightforward. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 06, 2026
Unauthenticated arbitrary file deletion in the WordPress plugin Simple File List (versions through 6.3.11) lets remote attackers remove files from a vulnerable site without authenticating, without user interaction, and without any non-default configuration. The issue is rated 8.6 (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H), with the limited integrity sub-score reflecting that the real damage depends on which files the web server user can delete - deleting wp-config.php or core files is far more severe than deleting an uploaded asset. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and the plugin is not listed in CISA KEV; this is nonetheless a genuine high-priority issue for WordPress sites running the affected plugin.
RemediationAI
Treat every version of Simple File List up to and including 6.3.11 as vulnerable and update the plugin to the first release after 6.3.11 as soon as it is available, verifying the exact patched version in the Patchstack advisory (https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/simple-file-list/vulnerability/wordpress-simple-file-list-plugin-6-3-11-arbitrary-file-deletion-vulnerability) before relying on the upgrade; no exact fixed version number is stated in the supplied data. If an immediate update is not possible, deactivate or uninstall the plugin - this removes the file-listing and file-management features the site may rely on, but it also removes the attack surface and is the most reliable short-term mitigation. As a narrower alternative, block external requests to the plugin's file-handling endpoints through a WAF or by restricting access to the plugin directory, accepting that legitimate file operations may break, and harden filesystem permissions so the web server user cannot delete wp-config.php, wp-content directories, or other core files, which reduces the blast radius without eliminating the flaw. Because exploitation needs only an unauthenticated network request, apply the update or the plugin removal promptly rather than treating this as a low-priority hardening item.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The flaw is a path traversal (CWE-22) in the WordPress plugin Simple File List, published by Mitchell Bennis and identified by the CPE cpe:2.3:a:mitchell_bennis:simple_file_list. An unauthenticated request to the plugin's file-handling endpoint can supply a crafted path that escapes the intended directory, and because the plugin does not adequately validate that path before acting on the file, the application can be tricked into deleting files outside the intended listing area. The CVSS vector confirms network reachability (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N); the scope-changed metric (S:C) acknowledges that a successful attack can affect components beyond the plugin itself, such as WordPress core files or wp-config.php, rather than being contained within the plugin. Exploitation is therefore only gated by the plugin being installed and active on a network-reachable site and by the web server user's filesystem permissions over the target file.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Unauthenticated network traversal (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) deleting files beyond the plugin (S:C, A:H); I:L added since deletion alters system state, which the vendor's I:N understates.
Primary rating from Vendor (Patchstack).
CVSS VectorVendor: Patchstack
DescriptionCVE.org
Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion in Simple File List <= 6.3.11 versions.
Executive ViewAI
The WordPress plugin Simple File List (all versions through 6.3.11) contains a high-severity flaw that lets an anonymous internet user delete files from any site running the plugin, with no login, no user action, and no special configuration required. Any business unit hosting WordPress with this plugin - marketing sites, blogs, microsites, or externally hosted properties - is exposed, and a successful attack could take a site offline or disable core functionality if critical files such as wp-config.php are removed. Because no vendor patch exists and the plugin is widely deployed by non-technical site owners, leadership should treat this as a near-term availability and recovery risk rather than a contained technical defect.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: deactivate and remove the affected plugin where business function allows; otherwise front the site with WAF/edge rules blocking direct external access to the plugin's file-handling endpoints; harden web server file permissions so the web user cannot delete wp-config.php, WordPress core, or plugin directories; maintain and test off-host backups; and enable file integrity monitoring to detect and rapidly recover from unauthorized deletions. Note: exploitation is unauthenticated (CVSS PR:N) per the provided vector; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
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EUVD-2026-93036
GHSA-x95h-m9rf-x2fr
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB