WatchTowerHQ <= 3.16.0 — Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Read via 'wht_download_big_object_origin' Parameter
CVE-2025-13972Published · Updated Action summary
Affected: ≤3.16.0Update to 3.16.1 or newer
All remediation steps- Severity
- Medium4.9
- CVSS
- 4.9CVSS 3.1 · CNA (Wordfence)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:NWhat does this vector mean?
AV:NAttack vector- Network
AC:LAttack complexity- Low
PR:HPrivileges required- High
UI:NUser interaction- None
S:UScope- Unchanged
C:HConfidentiality- High
I:NIntegrity- None
A:NAvailability- None
- Weakness
- CWE-22 Path Traversal
- Required access
- Unknown
- Exploit prediction (EPSS)
- No score
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
On this page8
Am I affected?
WatchTowerHQ watchtowerhq
- Affected≤ 3.16.0
- Patched in3.16.1
Update to 3.16.1 or newer.
You are affected if you run ≤ 3.16.0. Version 3.16.1 and later are not affected by this issue.
- Check your version: in wp-admin go to Plugins → Installed Plugins and read the version under WatchTowerHQ.
- No admin access? Run a passive check of your site. It reads public files only.
What to do
- Update to version 3.16.1, or a newer patched version
- Rotate administrator passwords and application secrets if the site ran a vulnerable version while publicly reachable.
- Watch WatchTowerHQ to get an email when the next vulnerability is published.
Advisory
Source description from Wordfence Intelligence, credited to ChamlaVic.
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.
Exploits & references
Proof-of-concept & detection
No public proof-of-concept or detection template is known for this vulnerability.
Advisories & patches
- Advisorywordfence.com
Related CVEs
More in WatchTowerHQ
All 5| Severity | Vulnerability | CVE | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical9.8 | Authentication Bypass to Administrator due to Missing Empty Value Check ≤3.10.1Update to 3.10.4 | CVE-2024-9933 | |
| Critical9.8 | Type Juggling to Authentication Bypass in check_ota ≤3.6.16Update to 3.6.17 | CVE-2023-25701 | |
| High8.6 | Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Download ≤3.6.15Update to 3.6.16 | CVE-2022-44583 | |
| Critical9.1 | Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion ≤3.6.15Update to 3.6.16 | CVE-2022-44584 |
- Critical9.8Authentication Bypass to Administrator due to Missing Empty Value Check
≤3.10.1Update to 3.10.4
- Critical9.8Type Juggling to Authentication Bypass in check_ota
≤3.6.16Update to 3.6.17
- High8.6Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Download
≤3.6.15Update to 3.6.16
- Critical9.1Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Deletion
≤3.6.15Update to 3.6.16
Same weakness (Path Traversal)
All Path Traversal| Severity | Vulnerability | CVE | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| High7.2 | Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment User-Agent Header | CVE-2026-120688 | |
| Critical9.8 | Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload via File Upload via Public Form Submission | CVE-2026-125055 | |
| Critical9.8 | Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection to Remote Code Execution via 'form' Parameter | CVE-2026-119077 | |
| Medium5.3 | Unauthenticated Sensitive Information Exposure in 'search' Parameter | CVE-2026-121518 |
- High7.2Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment User-Agent Header
EZ SQL Reports Shortcode Widget and DB Backup
≤5.25.25Update to 5.26.45
- Critical9.8Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload via File Upload via Public Form Submission
Chatterbug Forms – Fast, Flexible WordPress Form Builder
≤1.0.2Update to 1.1
- Critical9.8Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection to Remote Code Execution via 'form' Parameter
ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System
≤3.3.9Update to 3.4.0
- Medium5.3Unauthenticated Sensitive Information Exposure in 'search' Parameter
Customer Reviews for WooCommerce
≤5.127.0Update to 5.128.0
Timeline
CVE published
Severity medium, CVSS 4.9
Record last updated
Sources & licenses
Wordfence record- Vulnerability data
- Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. Licensed under the CC BY-SA 4.0.
- CVE® identifiers
- Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. Used under the CVE Program. CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.
- CVSS / CWE
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD), shown unmodified. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.
- VulnCrest content
- Summary, remediation guidance and page layout © VulnCrest. Not sourced from NVD.