CVE-2025-39538Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrator-level web shell upload via unrestricted import

Published Apr 16, 2025 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Unrestricted file upload in Mathieu Chartier WP-Advanced-Search 3.3.9.4 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to upload web shells. The db_import action accepts the wp_advanced_search_file_import field through admin-post.php without rejecting executable PHP content. Administrator access and a valid import-page nonce are required; an uploaded PHP file can execute commands under the web server account.

CVSS severity6.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unrestricted file upload in Mathieu Chartier WP-Advanced-Search 3.3.9.4 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to upload web shells. The db_import action accepts the wp_advanced_search_file_import field through admin-post.php without rejecting executable PHP content. Administrator access and a valid import-page nonce are required; an uploaded PHP file can execute commands under the web server account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-39538
Published
Apr 16, 2025
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
WP-Advanced-Search Project
Product
WP-Advanced-Search
Classifications
CWE-434, CAPEC-650, T1505.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 28, 2026Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=3.3.9.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

WP-Advanced-Search Project · WP-Advanced-Searchversion=0 <=3.3.9.4

Published CVSS scores

6.6PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
CAPEC-650Upload a Web Shell to a Web Server
T1505.003Web Shell

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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