Simple Download Counter <= 2.2.2 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Read via Path Traversal
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-22 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The Simple Download Counter plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.2. This is due to insufficient path validation in the `simple_download_counter_parse_path()` function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server, which may contain sensitive information such as database credentials (wp-config.php) or system files. Please note that the vendor opted to continue to allow remote file downloads from arbitrary locations on the server, however, has disabled this functionality on multi-sites and provided a warning to site owners in the readme.txt when they install the plugin. While not an optimal patch, we have considered this sufficient and recommend users proceed to use the plugin with caution.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-13677
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qv5q-qmv4-27rm
References
Other 4
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b82a0f71-29d7-469a-8c69-5ab68d599cb9?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/trunk/inc/functions-admin.php#L566
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-download-counter/tags/2.2.2/inc/functions-admin.php#L566
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=3409876%40simple-download-counter&new=3409876%40simple-download-counter&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
More specialk vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-01845 Simple Ajax Chat < 20240223 - Unauthenticated Stored XSS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
- TI-2024-02296 Simple Ajax Chat < 20240412 - Admin+ Stored XSS CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.4
- TI-2024-04645 User Submitted Posts < 20240516 - Admin+ Stored XSS CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.8
- TI-2019-15241 User Submitted Posts <= 20190312 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-10732 WordPress Simple Ajax Chat plugin <= 20220115 - Sensitive Information Disclosure vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2023-24406 WordPress User Submitted Posts Plugin <= 20230902 is vulnerable to Arbitrary File Upload CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2025-13677 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-13677 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qv5q-qmv4-27rm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences