# CVE-2025-13641: Path traversal in Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery

> Authenticated contributors can exploit a path validation flaw in NextGEN Gallery to include and execute arbitrary PHP files, leading to code execution and information disclosure.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Dec 2025
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q5wr-jxr7-gxfv

## What is CVE-2025-13641?

CVE-2025-13641 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in smub Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery, published on 18 Dec 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 3.59.12 via the 'template' shortcode parameter. This is due to insufficient path validation that allows absolute paths to be provided. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to include and execute arbitrary PHP files on the server, bypassing web server restrictions like .htaccess. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure, code execution in the WordPress context, and potential remote code execution if combined with arbitrary file upload capabilities.

Weakness: CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-13641?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-13641?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-13641 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-13641 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-13641 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-13641 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-13641 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in smub Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery, published on 18 Dec 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-13641 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: smub Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery. 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-2025-13641/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-13641/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-13641
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13641
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-13641

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-13641/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.