CVE-2025-5014 in Home Villas Theme Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/02/2025
The Home Villas | Real Estate WordPress Theme theme for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the 'wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete' function in all versions up to, and including, 2.8. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-5014 affects the Home Villas | Real Estate WordPress Theme, presenting a critical security flaw that stems from inadequate input validation within the WordPress ecosystem. This issue exists within the 'wp_rem_cs_widget_file_delete' function, which processes file deletion requests without properly sanitizing or validating the file paths provided by users. The vulnerability impacts all versions of the theme up to and including version 2.8, making it a widespread concern for WordPress installations utilizing this particular theme. The flaw represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthorized file manipulation through the web interface, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can leverage this weakness to compromise entire WordPress installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the theme's failure to properly validate file paths before executing deletion operations. When an authenticated user with subscriber-level privileges or higher accesses the file deletion functionality, the system does not adequately verify that the requested file path is within the intended directory scope. This lack of proper validation creates an opportunity for attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that could point to critical system files. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the WordPress admin interface, where legitimate users already possess elevated privileges, making it easier for attackers to exploit without requiring additional authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple file deletion capabilities, as it provides attackers with the potential to achieve complete system compromise. When combined with the ability to delete critical files such as wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and cryptographic keys, attackers can effectively disable the WordPress installation or gain deeper access to the underlying server infrastructure. This vulnerability enables a range of attack vectors including but not limited to remote code execution, data exfiltration, and complete system takeover. The implications are particularly severe for real estate websites that rely on WordPress themes, as these sites often contain sensitive property information, user data, and business-critical content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent path traversal attacks. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw maps directly to several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to first establish a foothold through legitimate user accounts, then escalate privileges by deleting critical configuration files, ultimately achieving remote code execution and maintaining persistent access to the compromised systems. Organizations using this theme should implement immediate mitigations including theme updates, input validation restrictions, and network-level protections to prevent exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-5014 should prioritize immediate theme version updates from the vendor to address the underlying validation flaw. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including restricting file deletion capabilities for non-administrative users, implementing proper input sanitization at multiple layers of the application, and establishing monitoring for unusual file deletion activities. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other installed themes and plugins, as this vulnerability demonstrates a pattern of inadequate input validation that commonly affects WordPress themes and plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely updates and reduce the window of vulnerability exposure.