Unauthenticated code execution via exposed upload connector
Published Sep 9, 2020 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
PHP upload in mndpsingh287 File Manager before 6.9 allows remote attackers to execute code via its exposed elFinder connector. The plugin ships connector.minimal.php instead of the inert example file, allowing unauthenticated upload, mkfile, and put commands to write PHP into wp-content/plugins/wp-file-manager/lib/files/. Exploitation requires HTTP access to the connector and PHP execution in that directory; plugin deactivation alone does not prevent access.
Summary
What happened
PHP upload in mndpsingh287 File Manager before 6.9 allows remote attackers to execute code via its exposed elFinder connector. The plugin ships connector.minimal.php instead of the inert example file, allowing unauthenticated upload, mkfile, and put commands to write PHP into wp-content/plugins/wp-file-manager/lib/files/. Exploitation requires HTTP access to the connector and PHP execution in that directory; plugin deactivation alone does not prevent access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-25213
- Published
- Sep 9, 2020
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- mndpsingh287
- Product
- File Manager
- Classifications
- CWE-434, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 9, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=n/a
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
View daily counts
| Reporting day | Unique IPs |
|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | 2 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Unavailable |
| Sep 25, 2026 | 2 |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Unavailable |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Unavailable |
| Sep 28, 2026 | 3 |
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Seravo PHP upload and execution proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
- wp-file-manager-0day elFinder.pyproof of concept · unverified
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Seravo-observed exploitation against hosted WordPress sitesreported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities inclusionknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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