CVE-2021-36425Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated arbitrary file deletion via path traversal

Published Feb 3, 2023 · Updated Mar 26, 2025

Path traversal in phpwcms 1.9.25 allows remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary files through the file-takeover backend. The include/inc_act/act_ftptakeover.php handler passes an unfiltered file value containing ../ sequences to unlink(). A valid backend session and access to the file takeover workflow are required, after which files writable by the web process can be removed.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.97%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in phpwcms 1.9.25 allows remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary files through the file-takeover backend. The include/inc_act/act_ftptakeover.php handler passes an unfiltered file value containing ../ sequences to unlink(). A valid backend session and access to the file takeover workflow are required, after which files writable by the web process can be removed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36425
Published
Feb 3, 2023
Updated
Mar 26, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-22, T1485
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 26, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
5.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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