# CVE-2016-15042: Frontend File Manager < 4.0 & N-Media Post Front-end Form < 1.1 & - Arbitrary File Upload

> Unauthenticated attackers can upload arbitrary files via missing validation in WordPress plugins, potentially leading to remote code execution.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-98v8-mh4j-wqg7

## What is CVE-2016-15042?

CVE-2016-15042 is a critical vulnerability in nmedia Frontend File Manager Plugin, published on 16 Oct 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Frontend File Manager (versions < 4.0), N-Media Post Front-end Form (versions < 1.1) plugins for WordPress are vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation via the `nm_filemanager_upload_file` and `nm_postfront_upload_file` AJAX actions. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files on the affected sites server which may make remote code execution possible.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-15042?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Najeebmedia Frontend File Manager, Najeebmedia Post Front-End Form.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-15042?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-15042 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-15042 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-15042 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2016-15042 lab: Dockerized WordPress PoC for unauthenticated file upload in Frontend File Manager <4.0 and N‑Media Post Front‑end Form <1.1 (github_poc): https://github.com/ImBIOS/lab-cve-2016-15042
- WordPress Frontend File Manager < 4.0 & N-Media Post Frontend < 1.1 - Arbitrary File Upload (nuclei): http/cves/2016/CVE-2016-15042.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in nmedia Frontend File Manager Plugin

- [CVE-2022-3125](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3125/): Frontend File Manager < 21.3 - Subscriber+ Arbitrary File Upload (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-25903](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-25903/): WordPress Frontend File Manager Plugin plugin <= 22.7 - Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability (medium 5.3)
- [CVE-2022-3124](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-3124/): Frontend File Manager < 21.3 - Unauthenticated File Renaming (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-15042 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-15042 is a critical vulnerability in nmedia Frontend File Manager Plugin, published on 16 Oct 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-15042 exists.

Affected product: nmedia Frontend File Manager Plugin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-15042/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-15042/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-15042
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-15042
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-15042

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-15042/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.