Arbitrary file renaming via missing nonce validation
Published Apr 16, 2025 · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Cross-site request forgery in Bill Minozzi WP Tools 5.18 and earlier allows remote attackers to rename arbitrary server files. The deactivate_mu_plugin() function processes forged requests because nonce validation is missing or incorrect, then renames an attacker-selected path. Exploitation requires a logged-in site administrator to follow a malicious link; renaming a critical file can interrupt the WordPress site.
Summary
What happened
Cross-site request forgery in Bill Minozzi WP Tools 5.18 and earlier allows remote attackers to rename arbitrary server files. The deactivate_mu_plugin() function processes forged requests because nonce validation is missing or incorrect, then renames an attacker-selected path. Exploitation requires a logged-in site administrator to follow a malicious link; renaming a critical file can interrupt the WordPress site.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-39544
- Published
- Apr 16, 2025
- Updated
- Apr 28, 2026
- Vendor
- Bill Minozzi
- Product
- WP Tools
- Classifications
- CWE-352, CAPEC-126, T1204.001
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=5.18 changes=[{"at":"5.19","status":"unaffected"}]
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
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo