플러그인 이름	The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver
Type of Vulnerability	크로스 사이트 요청 위조(CSRF)
CVE Number	CVE-2025-10188
긴급	낮은
CVE Publish Date	2025-09-16
Source URL	CVE-2025-10188

CVE-2025-10188: CSRF to Arbitrary Directory Deletion in The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver — What WordPress Site Owners Must Do Now

작가: WP-Firewall Security Team
날짜: 2025-09-16
태그: WordPress, security, vulnerability, CVE-2025-10188, WAF, plugin

TL;DR

• A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver (versions <= 2.0.4) can be abused to delete directories under /wp-content. This is tracked as CVE-2025-10188 and fixed in plugin version 3.1.1.
• Impact: lost plugins, themes, uploads, or other wp-content directories; site breakage and potential data loss.
• Immediate action: update the plugin to 3.1.1 or later. If you cannot update immediately, follow the mitigation steps below (disable plugin, apply firewall rules, protect wp-content).
• We (WP-Firewall) protect customers with virtual patching rules and continuous scanning, and we recommend steps below to harden sites, detect compromise, and recover quickly.

Introduction — why you should take this seriously

WordPress plugins are powerful because they extend site functionality, but with that power comes risk: a single plugin with an insecure file operation can result in permanent data loss or a site outage. The recently published CVE-2025-10188 affects a plugin used to archive and manage plugins, and it permits an attacker to trigger directory deletion under /wp-content without proper request validation.

Even though this vulnerability is rated as a medium/low impact in CVSS (5.4), the practical effects for many site owners can be severe — consider missing uploads, removed themes or plugins, or a broken website after core directories are removed. In this post we explain the technical nature of the flaw, real-world impact, detection indicators, step-by-step containment and recovery guidance, development fixes plugin authors should adopt, and how a Web Application Firewall (WAF) like WP-Firewall helps mitigate risk while you patch.

What happened (high-level)

• Vulnerable plugin: The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver
• 영향을 받는 버전: <= 2.0.4
• 수정됨: 3.1.1
• Vulnerability type: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) enabling arbitrary directory deletion under /wp-content
• CVE: CVE-2025-10188
• Discoverer: credited to a security researcher (published 16 Sep 2025)

The essence: an action exposed by the plugin allowed a directory-deletion operation to be triggered without proper request validation (nonces, capability checks, or CSRF protections). This deficiency makes it possible for an attacker to craft a request that, when executed in the context of a victim’s browser, causes removal of directories under /wp-content.

Technical analysis — how a CSRF leads to directory deletion

CSRF attacks rely on the fact that a victim’s browser carries authentication (cookies or bearer tokens) and can be induced to submit requests to the site under that identity. Normally, WordPress plugins protect state-changing operations with nonces (and capability checks) so that a third-party site cannot coerce the browser into executing destructive operations.

Where plugins go wrong:

• Missing nonce verification (no wp_verify_nonce/check_admin_referer).
• Missing capability checks (no current_user_can(...) or insufficient capability required).
• Exposing file operations via unauthenticated AJAX endpoints or unsecured admin screens.
• Trusting user-supplied paths without sanitization or canonicalization (leading to path traversal opportunities).

In this vulnerability:

• A deletion endpoint accepted a directory path under wp-content and performed a filesystem delete operation without sufficient request validation. The combination of lack of CSRF protections and insufficient authorization checks made the endpoint callable or manipulable — enabling deletion operations to be triggered through a forged request.

Why the CVSS score might understate practical risk

CVSS scores are useful for triage but can miss site-specific factors. For example:

• If a site stores user uploads, media library content, or custom plugins/themes in wp-content, a single directory deletion can break the site or cause content loss.
• Many sites don’t have frequent backups or immutable backups for wp-content, so recovery may not be straightforward.
• Automation: automated exploit scanners and mass-exploitation scripts can rapidly target known plugin vulnerabilities.

Exploitability & attack scenarios (without exploit code)

• Targeted attack: an attacker convinces a high-privilege user (or the site environment) to visit a malicious page that contains a hidden form or script targeting the vulnerable endpoint. If the site allows unauthenticated access or the endpoint can be invoked with a cookie-based session, the action can execute.
• Mass exploitation: automated requests or malicious pages could trigger the deletion endpoint for many sites where the conditions are met.
• Post-exploitation: an attacker could combine the deletion with other abuses (covering tracks, removing plugin protections, or removing security plugins), increasing persistence.

Note: we do not provide exploit code. The goal is to explain the mechanics and the defensive steps.

Immediate steps for site owners (incident containment)

If you run WordPress and use this plugin, follow these steps in this order:

1. Update the plugin (best and fastest fix)
   • Update The Hack Repair Guy’s Plugin Archiver to version 3.1.1 or later as soon as possible. This removes the vulnerable code path.
   • Test the update in a staging environment first if you have custom code, but prioritize production security if you cannot stage immediately.
2. If you cannot update right away: disable the plugin
   • Deactivate the plugin from the Plugins screen or rename its folder via FTP/SFTP (wp-content/plugins/plugin-archiver) to prevent the vulnerable code from executing.
   • Note: disabling may temporarily remove functionality but prevents further remote deletion via the bug.
3. Apply a short-term WAF rule
   • If you have a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy, block or rate-limit requests to the plugin’s administrative endpoints.
   • Block POST requests that attempt to trigger deletion behavior or requests that match the vulnerable action name. (WP-Firewall customers: our security team issues virtual patches that block this behavior automatically.)
   • If you cannot identify the exact endpoint, block suspicious requests that contain known deletion parameters, restrict direct access to admin-ajax.php from untrusted origins, or block suspicious user-agents until you can patch.
4. Protect wp-content (file permissions and backups)
   • Ensure file permissions are restrictive: directories typically 755 and files 644, and server user ownership aligns with your web server configuration. Do not allow the www-data or webserver user to delete files without restrictions beyond WordPress’s needs.
   • Make or verify recent backups of wp-content immediately — if directories were removed already, you need a backup to restore.
5. Scan your site
   • Use a reputable malware scanner and file integrity check to detect missing or modified files. Pay special attention to wp-content: plugins, themes, and uploads.
   • Review access logs for HTTP requests to the plugin endpoints around the time of discovery or suspected exploitation. Look for HTTP POSTs to admin endpoints, unusual referers, or unknown IP addresses.
6. Rotate credentials and secrets
   • If you find evidence of compromise, rotate administrator passwords, API keys, and other secrets. Ensure two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled for administrative accounts.
7. Recovery and restore
   • If directories have been deleted and you have a clean backup, restore the affected folders from the most recent known-good backup.
   • After restore, update the plugin to 3.1.1 before re-enabling it.
   • If no backup exists, consider using vendor-provided or host snapshots, or consult a professional recovery service.

How to detect exploitation — key indicators

• Missing plugin/theme directories or corrupted files under wp-콘텐츠/플러그인 그리고 wp-콘텐츠/테마.
• Missing uploads in wp-content/uploads (images, media assets).
• Unexpected 404s for previously reachable media or asset URLs.
• Administrative logs showing POST requests to plugin endpoints from suspicious referers or IPs.
• Unexplained 500 errors after deletion operations (broken plugins/themes).
• Timestamp disparities on files under wp-content (files deleted or changed at odd times).

Developer guidance — how to fix code to prevent this class of bug

If you maintain a plugin that performs file operations, adopt these secure coding best practices:

1. Enforce nonces and capability checks
   • 사용 wp_nonce_field() to produce a nonce in forms and validate with check_admin_referer() 또는 wp_verify_nonce() on the server.
   • Check user capabilities before performing file operations (for example, current_user_can('manage_options') or a more limited capability appropriate to the action).
2. Limit endpoints to authenticated/admin context
   • Do not expose destructive operations via unauthenticated endpoints. Ensure admin-ajax actions that perform file system modifications require authentication and capability checks.
3. Never trust user-supplied paths
   • Canonicalize and sanitize any filesystem paths. Use realpath() and verify that the resolved path is inside an allowed base directory, such as WP_CONTENT_DIR.
   • Reject paths containing traversal components (../) or perform a strict allowlist for folder names.
4. Use WordPress APIs safely
   • For file operations, prefer the WordPress Filesystem API which abstracts storage mechanics, and add additional checks.
   • Avoid using direct PHP functions like unlink/rmdir on user-provided input without rigorous validation.
5. Apply principle of least privilege
   • Perform destructive operations only when strictly necessary. Require multiple confirmations for dangerous operations when performed from admin UI.
6. Logging & audit trail
   • Record admin actions that change filesystem state and keep logs for incident analysis. Include username, IP, timestamp, and action details.
7. Testing & security review
   • Unit test file handling functions and include security-focused code reviews or third-party audits before shipping updates that modify filesystem content.

Example: a secure server-side pseudo-check (do not copy verbatim; use as guidance)

// Example pseudo-code illustrating checks (conceptual only)
if ( ! is_admin() ) {
    wp_die( 'Unauthorized' );
}

if ( ! current_user_can( 'activate_plugins' ) ) {
    wp_die( 'Insufficient privileges' );
}

if ( ! isset( $_POST['my_nonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['my_nonce'], 'my_plugin_delete' ) ) {
    wp_die( 'Invalid request' );
}

$requested = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['dir'] );
$base = wp_normalize_path( WP_CONTENT_DIR );
$target = wp_normalize_path( $base . '/' . ltrim( $requested, '/' ) );

if ( strpos( $target, $base ) !== 0 ) {
    wp_die( 'Invalid path' );
}

// proceed with safe, logged deletion using WP Filesystem API

How WP-Firewall helps — protection while you patch

As a provider of managed WordPress security, we focus on removing attack windows quickly and safely:

• Virtual patching: Before all sites can update, a WAF rule can intercept and block malicious requests that attempt to exercise this functionality. This stops mass exploitation without changing application code.
• Targeted rules: We block requests to specific plugin actions or parameter patterns that indicate an attempt to delete directories.
• Continuous scanning: Our scanning identifies missing directories or unexpected changes in wp-content and alerts site owners.
• Behavioral monitoring: We watch for unusual admin POSTs or sequences of requests that indicate automated exploitation attempts.
• Emergency response: If compromise is detected, we provide guidance and tools to restore from backup, harden the site, and prevent re-entry.

If you already use WP-Firewall, our security team has released coverage for this vulnerability through virtual patches to shield managed sites until the plugin update is applied.

Note on virtual patching

Virtual patching is not a replacement for updating vulnerable code — it is a protective measure to block known attack vectors until a full code-level fix is deployed. Once the plugin author releases the official patch (version 3.1.1 or above), you should still update the plugin.

Recovery checklist — step-by-step after confirmed deletion or compromise

1. Isolate the site: Place the site into maintenance mode, block public traffic if necessary to prevent further damage.
2. Preserve evidence: Make a full server snapshot and copy logs before making changes.
3. Restore files: Recover deleted directories from backups or host snapshots.
4. Update plugin: After restoration, update the plugin to 3.1.1 or later.
5. Scan for malware/backdoors: Confirm no backdoors were introduced (search for PHP files in upload directories, suspicious scheduled tasks, new admin users).
6. Rotate keys and passwords: Admin accounts, FTP/SFTP, database credentials, and API keys should be rotated if compromise is suspected.
7. Monitor: Increase alerting frequency for the next 30 days for anomalous admin activity or file changes.

Hardening and prevention — long-term security posture

• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated. Prioritize security updates.
• Enforce 2FA and strong passwords for admin users.
• Limit the number of users with high privileges; apply least privilege principle.
• Implement a WAF and ensure it’s configured to block common web exploits and suspicious requests.
• Use immutable or offsite backups with versioning to tolerate accidental or malicious deletions.
• Restrict direct access to administrative endpoints by IP or require additional verification for high-risk actions.
• Regularly audit plugin code (or use a managed security partner) before enabling plugins on production sites.

Practical advice for hosts and agencies

• Maintain automated nightly backups and retain several historical versions.
• Implement host-side filesystem snapshots that are accessible for quick restores.
• Monitor for mass exploit attempts across customer accounts and block malicious IPs at the network layer.
• Provide an incident response playbook to customers with step-by-step recovery and contact information.

Communication to plugin authors (brief)

• Thank you for promptly addressing the issue in 3.1.1. Future releases should include stricter testing for file operation endpoints.
• Add unit and integration tests that cover path canonicalization and ensure nonces/capability checks exist for all state-modifying endpoints.
• Consider an opt-in security disclosure program and a vulnerability coordination policy to streamline fixes in the future.

FAQ (common questions we get)

Q: My site shows missing files after the vulnerability was disclosed — what do I do first?
A: Stop further changes, make a server snapshot, and restore wp-content from a clean backup. Then update the plugin to 3.1.1. If you lack backups, contact your host and a security professional immediately.

Q: Will the vulnerability let attackers run arbitrary code?
A: This specific report concerns directory deletion. While deletion itself does not equate to remote code execution, deletion of security or monitoring plugins can facilitate other attacks by reducing defenses. Always assume a thorough post-incident investigation is necessary.

Q: If I install a WAF rule, can I skip updating the plugin?
A: No. A WAF rule buys time. The only permanent fix is to update the vulnerable plugin (3.1.1+). Virtual patches protect you during the window between disclosure and patching.

A WP-Firewall perspective — how we recommend you respond (short list)

• Update plugin to 3.1.1 or later immediately.
• If immediate update is impossible, deactivate the plugin and apply WAF virtual patches.
• Ensure backups are working and recent.
• Scan, investigate logs, and restore missing content.
• Harden the site per the best practices above.

Protect your site today — Start with our free plan

Start Safe: Activate WP-Firewall Basic (Free) for Essential Protection

If you want a fast, no-cost way to harden your WordPress site right away, consider signing up for the WP-Firewall Basic (Free) plan. It includes essential protection features — a managed firewall, unlimited bandwidth, web application firewall (WAF), malware scanning, and mitigation of OWASP Top 10 risks. These protections help prevent common exploitation attempts and give you immediate coverage while you patch vulnerable plugins or investigate incidents. Get started here: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/

Closing thoughts — security is layered and continuous

This vulnerability is a reminder that security must be layered — plugin authors must code defensively, site owners must keep software updated and maintain good backups, and security services (WAFs, monitoring, scanning) should be employed to reduce the window of exposure. If you manage multiple sites, automate updates where safe, and ensure you have offsite backups and a tested recovery process.

If you need assistance:

• Follow the containment & recovery steps above.
• If you’re a WP-Firewall customer, our support and incident response teams are available to help activate virtual patches, scan your site, and assist with recovery.
• If you’re not yet using a managed WAF, consider the Basic free plan to get immediate baseline protections: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/

References

• CVE-2025-10188 — public identifier for this vulnerability entry
• Plugin release notes — update to version 3.1.1 contains the fix (apply immediately)

안전히 계세요,
WP-Firewall Security Team