Plugin Name	MAS Videos
Type of Vulnerability	Local File Inclusion (LFI)
CVE Number	CVE-2025-62753
Urgency	High
CVE Publish Date	2025-12-30
Source URL	CVE-2025-62753

Critical Local File Inclusion Vulnerability in MAS Videos Plugin (<=1.3.2): Immediate Guidance for WordPress Site Owners

Executive Summary

A severe Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-62753 impacts the WordPress MAS Videos plugin versions up to and including 1.3.2. Publicly disclosed on December 30, 2025, this vulnerability permits attackers with minimal permissions to cause the plugin to load and render arbitrary local files from the hosting environment. Such exploitation risks exposure of sensitive data—including wp-config.php—potential credential theft, and in worst-case chained scenarios, a full site compromise.

This detailed advisory is authored by Managed-WP’s security experts who specialize in WordPress protection. It provides clear, practical instructions for site administrators, developers, and security teams on understanding this vulnerability, assessing risk, and responding appropriately. The guidance covers detection, containment, remediation, development best practices, and defense layers including web application firewalls (WAFs) and server hardening techniques.

---

Why the MAS Videos LFI Vulnerability Demands Immediate Attention

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities arise when an application incorporates user-controlled input into file inclusion operations without adequate validation. Attackers exploit such weaknesses to perform directory traversal using patterns like ../../, gaining unauthorized read or execution access to sensitive server-side files.

In this case:

• A public plugin endpoint accepts input parameters that directly influence file inclusion.
• Insufficient input sanitization combined with no whitelist allows arbitrary path traversal.
• The required privilege level is low—any user with “contributor”-level access can trigger the exploit, meaning many sites are vulnerable if contributor or similar roles are granted lightly.
• The vulnerability carries a high CVSS impact for confidentiality, integrity, and availability when chained with other issues, making it a critical risk.

WordPress sites typically store vital secrets and configuration data in accessible files; therefore, exposing these through LFI can be a stepping stone toward total site takeover.

---

Real-World Risk Assessment for WordPress Environments

The actual threat posed by this LFI depends on several contextual factors:

• Access Vector: If the vulnerable endpoint is accessible without authentication, the danger is extremely high. For authenticated low-privilege access only, risk depends on user registration and role assignment policies.
• File System Layout: Default WordPress configurations with readable wp-config.php and open upload directory permissions increase vulnerability scope.
• PHP Configurations: While remote URL inclusion is generally disabled, attackers can bypass by including local files under their control, such as logs or uploaded payloads.
• Upload Permissions: If untrusted users can upload files or inject log entries, they may leverage this LFI to execute arbitrary PHP code.
• Defense in Depth: Deployed WAFs, strict file permissions, and proactive monitoring can mitigate the exploitation risk significantly despite the vulnerability.

Given these factors, urgency in remediation is paramount to prevent exploitation.

---

Immediate Response Actions (Within 24 Hours)

If your site uses the MAS Videos plugin at or below version 1.3.2, follow these critical steps immediately:

1. Identify all affected installations
   • Check installed plugin versions via the WordPress admin dashboard under Plugins → Installed Plugins.
   • Use WP-CLI commands such as:

     wp plugin list --status=active --format=json | jq '.[] | select(.name=="masvideos" or .name=="MAS Videos")'

   • Review backups and hosting control panels if you manage multiple sites.
2. Minimize risk by deactivating or isolating the plugin
   • If no patched version is available, immediately deactivate MAS Videos:

     wp plugin deactivate masvideos

   • If deactivation is not feasible, restrict or block access to the vulnerable plugin endpoints at the server or firewall level as a temporary measure.
3. Create snapshots – Perform full backups of site files and databases. Preserve logs from web servers, PHP, and any WAF for forensic inspection.
4. Rotate credentials – Change database passwords, WordPress salts, and any integration API keys if compromise is suspected or unknown.
5. Monitor logs continuously for suspicious access patterns detailed in the detection section below.
6. Apply network-level or WAF filtering – Block directory traversal payloads (e.g. ../, %2e%2e%2f) and known malicious requests targeting plugin endpoints.

Taking these steps will limit exposure and provide time to plan comprehensive remediation.

---

Detecting Signs of Exploitation

Indicators that an LFI attack attempt or compromise may have occurred include:

• Access logs containing traversal payloads like ../../ or encoded equivalents targeting plugin endpoints.
• Requests returning sensitive file contents such as patterns from wp-config.php (e.g., DB_USER, AUTH_KEY).
• Unexpected PHP files or webshells existing in upload directories or temporary folders.
• Altered plugin files or unusual modification timestamps.
• Unexpected user registrations or privilege escalations to contributor or higher roles.
• Security plugin or WAF alerts identifying and blocking LFI patterns.
• Abnormal server metrics such as spikes in CPU, memory, or database activity.

Confirm any such findings require immediate incident response.

---

Containment and Incident Management

1. Place your site in maintenance mode or temporarily offline to halt further exploitation.
2. Preserve all logs, backups, and forensic data without overwriting.
3. Force password resets across all user accounts and invalidate active sessions.
4. Rotate all sensitive credentials (database, API keys, tokens).
5. Conduct thorough malware and webshell scans using trusted tools.
6. Where necessary, restore your site from a verified clean backup.
7. Notify any third-party services integrating with the site, and rotate their access credentials if applicable.
8. After remediation, perform a post-mortem review to strengthen defenses moving forward.

If unsure how to proceed, engage professional WordPress security service providers for assistance.

---

Temporary Mitigations When a Patch is Not Yet Available

Until an official fixed version is released by the plugin author, apply these layered mitigations:

• Deactivate and/or remove the vulnerable plugin from production environments at earliest opportunity.
• Restrict access to vulnerable endpoints with server- or network-level rules (e.g., .htaccess, nginx config, firewall blocking).
• Set restrictive file permissions (e.g. 644 for files, 755 for directories; 600 for wp-config.php).
• Enable PHP open_basedir restrictions to limit filesystem exposure.
• Implement code-level whitelisting of acceptable file includes if modifying source is possible.
• Deploy WAF rules specifically designed to detect and block LFI attack vectors.
• Limit contributor uploads and scan all file uploads thoroughly.

---

The Role of a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF is a pivotal line of defense against active exploitation attempts. Recommended WAF protections include:

• Signature and pattern-based blocking for directory traversal strings (../, %2e%2e%2f, etc.).
• Blocking access to key sensitive files such as wp-config.php and /etc/passwd.
• Sanitization and filtering of GET and POST parameters carrying suspicious payloads.
• Automated IP rate-limiting and temporary blocks on malicious repeat offenders.
• Virtual patching: targeted rules to intercept vulnerable plugin parameters preventing exploit triggers.
• Integration with malware scanners to detect subsequent server-side implants.

Managed-WP delivers always-on WAF protection featuring instant virtual patching to shield your WordPress site until permanent fixes can be applied.

---

Guidance for Plugin Developers: Secure Coding Practices to Prevent LFI

Plugin authors should apply the following best practices when designing file inclusion features:

1. Avoid direct inclusion of user input:
   • Never use code like include($_GET['file']); without validation.
2. Use strict server-side whitelisting:
   • Map user selections to predefined safe file paths.
   • Example safe whitelist inclusion:

<?php
$views = [
    'list'   => __DIR__ . '/views/list.php',
    'single' => __DIR__ . '/views/single.php',
];

$requested = isset($_GET['view']) ? $_GET['view'] : 'list';

if (!array_key_exists($requested, $views)) {
    $requested = 'list'; // fallback on invalid request
}

include $views[$requested];

3. Input validation and sanitization:
   • Reject input containing dots, slashes, or null bytes if a simple key is expected.
   • Use strong typecasting and pattern checks.
4. Check real paths and base directories:
   • Use realpath() to resolve included files and verify they reside inside allowed directories.

$base = realpath(__DIR__ . '/views');
$path = realpath($base . '/' . $requested . '.php');

if ($path === false || strpos($path, $base) !== 0) {
    http_response_code(400);
    exit('Invalid request');
}

include $path;

5. Principle of Least Privilege:
   • Only allow authorized roles to invoke file-including functionalities.
6. Avoid including files from writable directories:
   • Do not include files from upload or temporary directories.
7. Implement logging and monitoring:
   • Record attempts to include invalid or unexpected files and alert appropriately.
8. Adopt static analysis and code reviews:
   • Use security tools to detect insecure patterns before deploying.

Adhering to these coding standards eliminates the root causes of LFI vulnerabilities.

---

Additional Site Hardening Recommendations

Beyond the WAF and plugin patches, enhance your site’s security posture with:

• Disable theme and plugin file editing by adding define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); to wp-config.php.
• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins consistently updated; remove unused components.
• Audit and minimize user roles; remove or downgrade unnecessary privileged accounts.
• Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
• Harden PHP settings: disable risky functions (exec, shell_exec, etc.), enable open_basedir restrictions.
• Apply secure file system permissions and ownership.
• Isolate sites in separate environments to prevent cross-site contamination.
• Regularly schedule backups with tested restore processes.

---

System Administrator Quick Commands and Checks

Use the following commands on the server for inspection and mitigation:

• Check plugin version:

  grep -R "Version:" wp-content/plugins/masvideos -n

• Deactivate the plugin:

  wp plugin deactivate masvideos

• Scan access logs for traversal patterns:

  zgrep -E "%2e%2e|\\.\\.|%2f|%5c" /var/log/nginx/access.log*

• Search for disclosures in backups and logs:

  grep -R "DB_NAME\|DB_USER" /path/to/backups -n

• Find recently modified PHP files:

  find /var/www/html -name "*.php" -mtime -7 -ls

• Detect PHP files in upload folders (possible webshells):

  find wp-content/uploads -type f -iname "*.php"

Always archive logs externally before resetting or clearing them.

---

If Your Site Was Compromised: Recovery Checklist

1. Isolate and contain the compromised environment.
2. Investigate the root cause to confirm affected plugin and vector.
3. Restore the site from a verified clean backup or fresh WordPress core and plugin installs.
4. Rotate all secrets including database credentials and API keys.
5. Ensure reinstallation of plugins only from trusted repositories and fixed versions.
6. Perform comprehensive malware scans and monitor for lingering backdoors.
7. Consider an external security audit to validate full remediation.

---

Prevention is Far Better Than Cure

LFI exploit is often leveraged as an initial attack vector enabling attackers to:

• Retrieve sensitive configuration credentials.
• Execute malicious code by including attacker-controlled files.
• Deploy persistent backdoors such as webshells.
• Escalate privileges and pivot through network or application layers.

Robust perimeter defenses, strict access controls, and secure coding practices dramatically reduce the risk of costly breaches.

---

Managed-WP’s Recommendations for Managed WordPress Sites

Managed-WP advocates a layered security approach:

1. Deploy managed WAF solutions offering immediate edge protection and virtual patching.
2. Utilize automated malware detection for early identification of threats.
3. Follow a rapid incident response playbook including plugin deactivation and detailed forensics.
4. Adopt ongoing hardening best practices and continuous monitoring solutions.

Our managed service reduces risk significantly – even when vendor patches are pending – keeping sites secure and compliant.

---

New: Instant Protection with Managed-WP’s Free Plan

Activate Managed-WP’s free Basic plan today to secure your WordPress sites. It includes managed firewall, real-time WAF protection, unlimited bandwidth, and malware scanning designed to thwart plugin vulnerabilities like MAS Videos LFI.

Get started here: https://managed-wp.com/pricing

Upgrade to premium plans for enhanced features including automatic malware removal, IP filtering, compliance reports, and more responsive virtual patching.

---

Timelines and Expectations

• Immediate: Identify and deactivate the MAS Videos plugin; preserve evidence for analysis.
• Short-term (1–3 days): Apply network and WAF-level restrictions, scan for compromise signals, and rotate credentials.
• Medium-term (days): Restore or rebuild compromised sites; implement permanent plugin fixes or replacements.
• Long-term: Maintain continuous monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and managed firewall deployment.

---

Final Action Checklist

• Confirm if MAS Videos plugin is installed and note the version.
• If version ≤ 1.3.2, immediately deactivate and refrain from production use until patched.
• Secure offline backups of files, databases, and logs.
• Deploy blocking rules on edge devices and WAFs to prevent LFI exploit attempts.
• Conduct manual and automated scans for suspicious files and signs of compromise.
• Change all database and API credentials if breach is possible.
• Apply hardened PHP and server configuration settings.
• Activate Managed-WP’s Basic protection plan for immediate managed WAF and malware scanning.

---

Parting Advisory

WordPress plugin vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-62753 exemplify why layered defense strategies are critical. A single exploited weakness can cascade into a full-scale breach if left unchecked. Managed-WP urges administrators to treat even low privilege vulnerabilities with urgency, apply managed protective measures, maintain vigilance, and consult security professionals when needed.

If you require expert assistance for triaging, virtual patching deployment, or incident response, Managed-WP offers dedicated WordPress security services tailored to your environment. Start your protection journey with our free managed firewall and malware scanner here: https://managed-wp.com/pricing.

Stay proactive, update rigorously, and safeguard your WordPress sites with industry-grade managed security expertise.

---

Take Proactive Action — Secure Your Site with Managed-WP

Don’t risk your business or reputation due to overlooked plugin flaws or weak permissions. Managed-WP provides robust Web Application Firewall (WAF) protection, tailored vulnerability response, and hands-on remediation for WordPress security that goes far beyond standard hosting services.

Exclusive Offer for Blog Readers: Access our MWPv1r1 protection plan—industry-grade security starting from just USD20/month.

• Automated virtual patching and advanced role-based traffic filtering
• Personalized onboarding and step-by-step site security checklist
• Real-time monitoring, incident alerts, and priority remediation support
• Actionable best-practice guides for secrets management and role hardening

Get Started Easily — Secure Your Site for USD20/month:
Protect My Site with Managed-WP MWPv1r1 Plan

Why trust Managed-WP?

• Immediate coverage against newly discovered plugin and theme vulnerabilities
• Custom WAF rules and instant virtual patching for high-risk scenarios
• Concierge onboarding, expert remediation, and best-practice advice whenever you need it

Don’t wait for the next security breach. Safeguard your WordPress site and reputation with Managed-WP—the choice for businesses serious about security.

Click above to start your protection today (MWPv1r1 plan, USD20/month).