CVE-2025-14388 PhastPress <= 3.7 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read via Null Byte Injection
Unauthenticated attackers can read arbitrary files, including wp-config.php, from the webroot via null byte injection in PhastPress.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-14388?
CVE-2025-14388 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in kiboit PhastPress, published on 23 Dec 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The PhastPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Read via null byte injection in all versions up to, and including, 3.7. This is due to a discrepancy between the extension validation in `getExtensionForURL()` which operates on URL-decoded paths, and `appendNormalized()` which strips everything after a null byte before constructing the filesystem path. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the webroot, including wp-config.php, by appending a double URL-encoded null byte (%2500) followed by an allowed extension (.txt) to the file path.
Weakness: CWE-158
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-14388?
How do I fix CVE-2025-14388?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-14388 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-2025-14388 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-14388 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-pgxv-mqxq-9799.