CVE-2025-1304 in NewsBlogger Theme
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2025
The NewsBlogger theme for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to a missing capability check on the newsblogger_install_and_activate_plugin() function in all versions up to, and including, 0.2.5.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1304 affects the NewsBlogger theme for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the platform's integrity. This issue stems from a fundamental design oversight in the theme's codebase where proper access controls have been omitted during the implementation of file upload functionality. The vulnerability specifically resides within the newsblogger_install_and_activate_plugin() function, which fails to validate user permissions before allowing file operations to proceed. This weakness exists across all versions of the theme up to and including version 0.2.5.1, making a substantial portion of WordPress installations potentially vulnerable to exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing capability check that should normally verify whether the authenticated user possesses sufficient privileges to perform administrative actions. In this case, the function does not properly validate whether the requesting user has the necessary permissions to install or activate plugins, which are typically restricted to administrators or users with elevated privileges. The absence of this validation creates a privilege escalation vector that allows attackers with subscriber-level access or higher to bypass normal security boundaries. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms that permit unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve remote code execution on compromised WordPress sites. Once an authenticated attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can upload malicious files to the server, potentially including web shells, malware, or other malicious payloads. The implications extend beyond simple file uploads, as these capabilities can enable attackers to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify website content, or use the compromised server as a launchpad for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 for web shell deployment and T1059.001 for command execution through compromised systems.
Organizations and WordPress administrators must implement immediate mitigations to protect against this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves upgrading to the latest version of the NewsBlogger theme where the capability check has been properly implemented and validated. Additionally, implementing proper network segmentation and monitoring for unusual file upload activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security measures should include restricting file upload capabilities to only trusted administrators, implementing strict file type validation, and maintaining comprehensive logging of all plugin installation and activation events. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, as highlighted in the OWASP Top Ten 2021 category A05:2021 - Security Misconfiguration, emphasizing that inadequate access controls can lead to serious consequences including complete system compromise.