WatchTowerHQ <= 3.16.0 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Read via 'wht_download_big_object_origin' Parameter
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2025-13972 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | Wordfence |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2025-12-12 04:15:45 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-04-08 17:20:22 UTC |
| Description | The WatchTowerHQ plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file read via the 'wht_download_big_object_origin' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.16.0. This is due to insufficient path validation in the handle_big_object_download_request function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and a valid access token, to read arbitrary files on the server, which can contain sensitive information such as database credentials and authentication keys. |
Risk And Classification
Primary CVSS: v3.1 4.9 MEDIUM from [email protected]
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Problem Types: CWE-22 | CWE-22 CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
| Version | Source | Type | Score | Severity | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | [email protected] | Secondary | 4.9 | MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N |
| 3.1 | CNA | DECLARED | 4.9 | MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N |
CVSS v3.1 Breakdown
Attack Vector
NetworkAttack Complexity
LowPrivileges Required
HighUser Interaction
NoneScope
UnchangedConfidentiality
HighIntegrity
NoneAvailability
NoneCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Vendor Declared Affected Products
| Source | Vendor | Product | Version | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Watchtowerhq | WatchTowerHQ | affected 3.16.0 semver | Not specified |
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/watchtowerhq/tags/3.15.0/src/Download.php | [email protected] | plugins.trac.wordpress.org | |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/watchtowerhq/trunk/src/Download.php | [email protected] | plugins.trac.wordpress.org | |
| www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/13fcbff8-8560-48ca-82df-8b620... | [email protected] | www.wordfence.com | |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
Vendor Comments And Credit
Discovery Credit
CNA: Camilla Flocco (en)
Additional Advisory Data
| Source | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| CNA | 2025-12-11T14:28:08.000Z | Disclosed |
There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.