CVE-2026-101889 in Prime Mover Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
The Prime Mover plugin for WordPress before 2.2.1 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows authenticated administrators to delete arbitrary directories by importing a crafted WPRIME/TAR package with manipulated tar_root_folder values in wprime-config.json. Attackers can exploit insufficient path validation in computeExtractVariables() and validateImportedSiteVsPackage() to cause primeMoverDoDelete() to remove directories outside the intended extraction path, potentially deleting critical WordPress directories such as wp-admin and rendering the site inoperable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The Prime Mover plugin for WordPress prior to version 2.2.1 contains a critical path traversal vulnerability that enables authenticated administrators with minimal privileges to execute arbitrary file system deletions. This flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input during the import process, specifically within the functions computeExtractVariables and validateImportedSiteVsPackage. These functions are responsible for parsing configuration files contained within WPRIME or TAR packages imported by the administrator. When a crafted package is uploaded, it can include manipulated tar_root_folder values in the wprime-config.json file that contain directory traversal sequences such as ../. The application fails to properly sanitize these paths before passing them to the underlying deletion logic, allowing an attacker to break out of the intended extraction or target directory boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for WordPress installations. By exploiting the path traversal flaw, a malicious actor can cause the primeMoverDoDelete function to remove directories outside the scope of normal plugin operations. This includes critical system directories such as wp-admin, which houses the core administrative interface files. The deletion of these essential components renders the website completely inoperable, resulting in total service disruption and loss of availability for all users attempting to access the site. Beyond immediate downtime, this vulnerability can lead to significant data loss if other sensitive directories or configuration files are targeted, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the web application environment.
From a technical classification perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, as the software does not adequately restrict file system operations to intended locations. Furthermore, in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates actions consistent with T1485 Data Destruction, where an adversary aims to destroy data or disrupt availability by deleting critical files and directories on affected systems. The requirement for authentication means that threat actors typically need valid credentials, which may be obtained through credential stuffing, phishing, or other initial access techniques, making the attack chain more complex but still highly damaging once achieved.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 2.2.1 or later, where this path validation logic has been corrected. Administrators who cannot immediately upgrade should implement strict input validation on any custom scripts that interact with file system operations and ensure that the web server user running WordPress does not have write permissions to critical directories like wp-admin unless absolutely necessary for specific maintenance tasks. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall can help detect and block requests containing directory traversal patterns in POST data or uploaded files. Regular backups of both database content and file systems are essential to enable rapid recovery from such destructive attacks, ensuring business continuity even if the vulnerability is exploited before patches are applied.