CVE-2025-3740 in School Management System Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2025
The School Management System for Wordpress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 93.1.0 via the 'page' parameter. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to include and execute arbitrary files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files. This can be used to bypass access controls, obtain sensitive data, or achieve code execution in cases where images and other “safe” file types can be uploaded and included. The Local File Inclusion exploit can be chained to include various dashboard view files in the plugin. One such chain can be leveraged to update the password of Super Administrator accounts in Multisite environments making privilege escalation possible. The vendor has updated the version numbers beginning with `1.93.1 (02-07-2025)` for the patched version. This version comes after version 93.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2025
The School Management System for WordPress plugin presents a critical local file inclusion vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 93.1.0. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of the 'page' parameter, creating an exploitable path traversal condition that allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges or higher to include and execute arbitrary files on the target server. The flaw fundamentally stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, enabling attackers to manipulate file inclusion paths and potentially execute malicious PHP code. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it provides a pathway for privilege escalation and data exfiltration within WordPress environments.
The technical exploitation of this local file inclusion vulnerability follows a predictable pattern where attackers can leverage the 'page' parameter to traverse the filesystem and include files that should remain protected. This flaw operates under CWE-22, which classifies improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. Attackers can chain this vulnerability with other plugin components, specifically targeting dashboard view files that may contain sensitive information or administrative functions. The vulnerability's exploitation becomes particularly dangerous in multisite WordPress installations where the attacker can leverage the LFI to modify administrator accounts and escalate privileges to super administrator level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with multiple attack vectors for compromising WordPress installations. The ability to execute arbitrary PHP code enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including data theft, backdoor installation, and persistent access to compromised systems. In multisite environments, the vulnerability creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation by allowing attackers to modify super administrator passwords, effectively taking complete control of the WordPress network. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for educational institutions that rely on WordPress for school management systems, as these environments often contain sensitive student and staff data.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 1.93.1 or later, which addresses the path traversal issue through proper input validation and parameter sanitization. Organizations should also implement network-level protections including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious file inclusion patterns, particularly those involving directory traversal sequences. Additionally, privilege escalation controls should be enforced through proper user access management, ensuring that only authorized personnel maintain subscriber or higher privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through PHP, where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other WordPress plugins and themes, as this vulnerability type remains prevalent in content management systems due to insufficient parameter validation mechanisms.