CVE-2025-13972 Path traversal in WatchTowerHQ
Authenticated administrators can read arbitrary server files via path traversal in the WatchTowerHQ WordPress plugin, potentially exposing sensitive credentials.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-13972?
CVE-2025-13972 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in WatchTowerHQ, published on 12 Dec 2025. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Official 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.
Weakness: CWE-22
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-13972?
How do I fix CVE-2025-13972?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-13972 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2025-13972 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-13972 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-58q3-hw27-275g.