CVE-2025-14867 liangshao CVE debrief

Who should care

WordPress administrators, security teams, and users of the Flashcard plugin should assess exposure and prioritize remediation efforts. This includes reviewing plugin versions, monitoring for suspicious activity, and updating to a patched version as soon as possible. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing compensating controls and verifying file access to prevent potential unauthorized access to server files.

Why it matters

The Path Traversal vulnerability in the Flashcard plugin for WordPress allows authenticated attackers to read arbitrary files, potentially exposing sensitive information. WordPress administrators and security teams should assess exposure and prioritize remediation.

• Potential exposure of sensitive information due to arbitrary file reading.
• Possible unauthorized access to server files.
• Need for verification of plugin version and exposure.
• Prioritization of remediation efforts.

Technical summary

The Flashcard plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 0.9 via the 'source' attribute of the 'flashcard' shortcode. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor level access and above, to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which can contain sensitive information. The vulnerability is a result of insufficient input validation and sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths and access unauthorized files. This could lead to exposure of sensitive information, including but not limited to, server configuration files, database credentials, and other critical data.

Defensive priority

Assess exposure and prioritize remediation for WordPress installations using the Flashcard plugin version 0.9 or earlier.

Recommended defensive actions

• Assess exposure: Identify WordPress installations using the Flashcard plugin version 0.9 or earlier.
• Prioritize remediation: Update the Flashcard plugin to a version that addresses the Path Traversal vulnerability.
• Verify file access: Monitor for potential unauthorized file access attempts.
• Review server logs: Check for suspicious file access requests.
• Implement compensating controls: Consider additional security measures to protect against potential exploitation.
• Conduct asset inventory: Identify and track WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin.
• Track exceptions: Monitor and document remediation efforts and exceptions.

Evidence notes

The vulnerability is confirmed in Flashcard plugin versions up to and including 0.9. The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the Path Traversal vulnerability. Evidence is based on official CVE and NVD sources, which confirm the vulnerability's existence and impact. Defenders should verify plugin versions and assess exposure to ensure remediation efforts are prioritized correctly.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.