Jeff Starr Simple Download Counter Plugin up to 2.2.2 on WordPress simple_download_counter_parse_path path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Jeff Starr Simple Download Counter Plugin up to 2.2.2 on WordPress. This issue affects the function simple_download_counter_parse_path. This manipulation causes path traversal. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-13677. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Jeff Starr Simple Download Counter Plugin up to 2.2.2 on WordPress. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function simple_download_counter_parse_path. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

The Simple Download Counter plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.2. This is due to insufficient path validation in the `simple_download_counter_parse_path()` function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which may contain sensitive information such as database credentials (wp-config.php) or system files. Please note that the vendor opted to continue to allow remote file downloads from arbitrary locations on the server, however, has disabled this functionality on multi-sites and provided a warning to site owners in the readme.txt when they install the plugin. While not an optimal patch, we have considered this sufficient and recommend users proceed to use the plugin with caution.

It is possible to read the advisory at wordfence.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-13677. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Additional levels of successful authentication are necessary for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1006 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at CNNVD (CNNVD-202512-2022) and EUVD (EUVD-2025-202392). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• WordPress Plugin

Vendor

• Jeff Starr

Name

• Simple Download Counter Plugin

Version

• 2.2.0
• 2.2.1
• 2.2.2

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CPE 2.2info

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Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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