Description
The Ads Pro Plugin - Multi-Purpose WordPress Advertising Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion which leads to Remote Code Execution in all versions up to, and including, 4.89. This is due to the presence of a SQL Injection vulnerability and Local File Inclusion vulnerability that can be chained with an image upload. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to execute code on the server upload image files on the server than can be fetched via a SQL injection vulnerability, and ultimately executed as PHP code through the local file inclusion vulnerability.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2025-19688
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
The vulnerability described in EUVD-2025-19688 pertains to the Ads Pro Plugin - Multi-Purpose WordPress Advertising Manager plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability is classified as a Local File Inclusion (LFI) leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE), facilitated by a SQL Injection vulnerability and an image upload feature. The CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) base score of 9.8 indicates a critical severity level. The scoring vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H signifies the following:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) - The vulnerability is exploitable over the network.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) - The attack requires minimal skill and resources.
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N) - No authentication is required to exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction (UI): None (N) - No user interaction is required.
- Scope (S): Unchanged (U) - The vulnerability does not affect other systems beyond the initial target.
- Confidentiality (C): High (H) - Complete loss of confidentiality.
- Integrity (I): High (H) - Complete loss of integrity.
- Availability (A): High (H) - Complete loss of availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
The attack vectors for this vulnerability include:
- SQL Injection: An attacker can inject malicious SQL queries through unvalidated input fields.
- Local File Inclusion (LFI): By manipulating file paths, an attacker can include and execute local files on the server.
- Image Upload: The attacker can upload a malicious image file that contains PHP code, which can then be executed through the LFI vulnerability.
The exploitation method involves chaining these vulnerabilities:
- The attacker uploads a malicious image file containing PHP code.
- The attacker uses SQL Injection to manipulate the database and retrieve the path of the uploaded image.
- The attacker exploits the LFI vulnerability to include and execute the malicious PHP code from the uploaded image file.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of the Ads Pro Plugin - Multi-Purpose WordPress Advertising Manager up to and including version 4.89. This includes any WordPress installation that has this plugin installed and active.
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate this vulnerability, the following steps are recommended:
- Update the Plugin: Immediately update the Ads Pro Plugin to a version higher than 4.89 if available.
- Disable the Plugin: If an update is not available, consider disabling the plugin until a patch is released.
- Input Validation: Ensure that all input fields are properly validated and sanitized to prevent SQL Injection.
- File Upload Restrictions: Implement strict file upload policies to prevent the upload of malicious files.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF to monitor and block suspicious activities.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the European cybersecurity landscape, particularly for organizations and individuals using WordPress with the affected plugin. Given the widespread use of WordPress, the potential for widespread exploitation is high, leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential financial losses. The critical severity of this vulnerability underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and timely updates to mitigate such risks.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
For security professionals, the following technical details are pertinent:
- SQL Injection Detection: Implement SQL query parameterization and prepared statements to prevent SQL Injection.
- LFI Prevention: Ensure that file inclusion functions (e.g.,
include,require) use absolute paths and validate user input to prevent path manipulation. - File Upload Security: Use secure file upload practices, including file type validation, size restrictions, and scanning for malicious content.
- Monitoring and Logging: Enable comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect and respond to suspicious activities promptly.
- Patch Management: Establish a robust patch management process to ensure timely updates and patches for all software components.
By addressing these technical details, security professionals can enhance the overall security posture of their systems and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The vulnerability described in EUVD-2025-19688 is a critical threat to WordPress installations using the Ads Pro Plugin. Immediate action is required to update the plugin, implement robust security measures, and conduct regular audits to protect against potential exploitation. The European cybersecurity landscape must prioritize timely updates and comprehensive security practices to safeguard against such high-severity vulnerabilities.