Overview
CVE-2025-13381 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting the “AI ChatBot with ChatGPT and Content Generator by AYS” WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to upload media files to the WordPress server, potentially leading to various security risks. All versions up to and including 2.7.0 are affected. A patch has been released in version 2.7.1 to address this issue. It is crucial to update the plugin immediately if you are running a vulnerable version.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from a missing capability check on the ays_chatgpt_save_wp_media function within the plugin. This function, responsible for handling media uploads triggered by the AI ChatBot’s features, lacks proper authentication. Without the necessary capability check, any user (even those not logged in) can access and execute this function, uploading arbitrary files to the WordPress media library. The vulnerable code exists in the admin/class-chatgpt-assistant-admin.php and includes/class-chatgpt-assistant.php files of the plugin.
Specifically, the issue was found in these locations (based on version 2.6.9 which predates the fix):
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for CVE-2025-13381 is 5.3 (Medium). This score reflects the moderate risk associated with unauthorized media uploads. The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit the vulnerability remotely. Authentication is not required, and the impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability is considered low. The Exploitability Metrics are relatively high, suggesting that the vulnerability is easy to exploit.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to the following:
- Malicious File Uploads: Attackers can upload malicious files, such as PHP scripts, that could be executed on the server, leading to website defacement, data theft, or complete server compromise.
- Phishing Attacks: Uploaded images or documents could be used in phishing campaigns, tricking users into providing sensitive information.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Uploading large files could consume server resources, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.
- SEO Spam: Injecting spam content or links via uploaded files can negatively impact the website’s search engine rankings.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation step is to update the “AI ChatBot with ChatGPT and Content Generator by AYS” plugin to version 2.7.1 or higher. This version contains a patch that addresses the missing capability check and prevents unauthenticated media uploads. You can update the plugin through your WordPress dashboard.
To further protect your website, consider the following:
- Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF): A WAF can help to detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability.
- Regularly Scan for Vulnerabilities: Use a security scanner to identify outdated plugins and themes that may contain vulnerabilities.
- Limit File Upload Types: Restrict the types of files that can be uploaded through the media library to prevent the upload of potentially malicious files (e.g., PHP, executable files).
The code changeset that implemented the fix can be viewed here: Plugin Patch Changelog
