Overview
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-12973, has been discovered in the S2B AI Assistant – ChatBot, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Content & Image Generator plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Editor-level access and above to upload arbitrary files to the affected server. This can potentially lead to remote code execution (RCE) and complete compromise of the WordPress website.
The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including version 1.7.8. A patch has been released to address this issue. It is crucial to update to the latest version of the plugin immediately.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the storeFile() function within the plugin’s code. The function lacks proper file type validation, allowing attackers to bypass intended security measures. Specifically, the absence of checks on the file extension or MIME type enables the upload of malicious files, such as PHP scripts or other executable files.
An authenticated user with Editor-level privileges or higher can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious request to the file upload endpoint. Because WordPress grants Editor-level users the ability to modify website content, this opens the door to widespread exploitation.
See the vulnerable code and the fix here: Utils.php on WordPress.org and the changeset implementing the fix: Fix changeset.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for CVE-2025-12973 is 7.2 (HIGH). This score reflects the potential for significant impact due to the vulnerability’s exploitability and the resulting damage if successfully exploited.
The CVSS vector string is likely something similar to: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating Network attack vector, Low attack complexity, High privileges required (Editor and up), No user interaction, Unchanged scope, High Confidentiality impact, High Integrity impact, and High Availability impact.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can have severe consequences, including:
- Remote Code Execution (RCE): Attackers can execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially taking complete control of the website.
- Website Defacement: Malicious actors can modify website content, inject malicious code, or redirect users to phishing sites.
- Data Theft: Sensitive data stored on the server, such as user credentials or customer information, can be compromised.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Attackers can disrupt website availability, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is to update the S2B AI Assistant plugin to the latest version as soon as possible. The patched version addresses the missing file type validation and prevents arbitrary file uploads.
- Update the Plugin: Navigate to the “Plugins” section in your WordPress admin dashboard and update the S2B AI Assistant plugin.
- Verify the Version: Ensure that the updated plugin version is later than 1.7.8.
- Review User Permissions: Consider reviewing user roles and permissions to minimize the impact of potential future vulnerabilities. Limit Editor-level access only to trusted users.
- Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF): A WAF can provide an additional layer of security by filtering out malicious requests and preventing exploitation attempts.
