Administrator RCE via unrestricted image upload
Published Oct 27, 2025 · Updated Oct 27, 2025
Unrestricted file upload in Willow CMS 1.0 through 1.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code via the admin image uploader. The /admin/images/add handler accepts a PHP webshell as an image upload without blocking its dangerous file type, then makes it reachable for execution. Administrator privileges are required; successful exploitation runs arbitrary commands on the CMS host and can compromise stored data or interrupt service.
Summary
What happened
Unrestricted file upload in Willow CMS 1.0 through 1.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code via the admin image uploader. The /admin/images/add handler accepts a PHP webshell as an image upload without blocking its dangerous file type, then makes it reachable for execution. Administrator privileges are required; successful exploitation runs arbitrary commands on the CMS host and can compromise stored data or interrupt service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-12331
- Published
- Oct 27, 2025
- Updated
- Oct 27, 2025
- Vendor
- Matthew Deaves
- Product
- Willow CMS
- Classifications
- CWE-434, CWE-284, T1505.003
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 27, 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=1.0
- Affected versionversion=1.1
- Affected versionversion=1.2
- Affected versionversion=1.3
- Affected versionversion=1.4.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- YouTube proof-of-concept for Willow CMS upload RCEproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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