CVE-2025-14280

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-14280 is a Sensitive Information Exposure vulnerability affecting the PixelYourSite WordPress plugin. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 11.1.5, where publicly accessible log files can be read by unauthenticated attackers when the "Meta API logs" setting is enabled (disabled by default). This exposure allows attackers to view potentially sensitive data such as API keys, user metadata, or internal plugin operations logged during Meta API interactions.

The vulnerability is classified as Medium severity (CVSS 5.3) due to the low attack complexity and network-based exploitation, though the default disabled state reduces the immediate risk. The plugin is part of the WordPress ecosystem, and the issue stems from improper handling of log file permissions within the plugin itself, not the underlying web server.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the PixelYourSite WordPress plugin, which is distributed via the official WordPress plugin repository. No supply chain compromise (e.g., malicious commits, dependency hijacking) has been identified. The risk is limited to site administrators who enable the "Meta API logs" feature, inadvertently exposing log files to the public.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
• Base Score: 5.3 (Medium)
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) – Exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – No special conditions required.
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – Unauthenticated access.
• User Interaction: None (UI:N) – No user action needed.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – Impact confined to the vulnerable component.
• Confidentiality Impact: Low (C:L) – Limited sensitive data exposure.
• Integrity Impact: None (I:N) – No data modification.
• Availability Impact: None (A:N) – No service disruption.

Threat Level: Medium. The vulnerability is trivial to exploit but requires the "Meta API logs" setting to be enabled, which is disabled by default. The exposed data may include API keys or user metadata, but not full system compromise.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The PixelYourSite plugin integrates with Meta (Facebook) APIs for tracking and analytics. When the "Meta API logs" setting is enabled, the plugin writes debug logs to a file within the WordPress uploads directory (e.g., /wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/). These log files are stored with insufficient access controls, allowing direct HTTP access without authentication.

Root Cause: The plugin fails to restrict access to log files via .htaccess or server-side configuration, nor does it obfuscate or encrypt the log content. The log files are stored in a publicly accessible directory, and the plugin does not check for user authentication before serving them.

Attack Scenario:

1. An attacker identifies a WordPress site running PixelYourSite with the "Meta API logs" setting enabled.
2. The attacker navigates to /wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/meta-api-logs.log (or similar path).
3. The log file is served directly, revealing API request/response data, including potential API keys, user tokens, or PII.

Impact: Exposure of sensitive data that could be used for further attacks, such as API key abuse or social engineering.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (<= 11.1.5): The plugin writes log files to the uploads directory without access controls. Example pseudocode:

function log_meta_api_request($data) {
    $log_file = WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/uploads/pixelyoursite/meta-api-logs.log';
    file_put_contents($log_file, json_encode($data) . PHP_EOL, FILE_APPEND);
}

No .htaccess or authentication check is applied to the log directory.

Patched Code (>= 11.1.5.1): The patch adds an .htaccess file to deny direct access to the log directory:

function secure_log_directory() {
    $log_dir = WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/uploads/pixelyoursite/';
    $htaccess = $log_dir . '.htaccess';
    if (!file_exists($htaccess)) {
        file_put_contents($htaccess, "Deny from all\n");
    }
}

Additionally, the plugin may obfuscate sensitive data in logs or disable logging by default.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites: Target site must have PixelYourSite plugin installed with "Meta API logs" enabled.

Step-by-Step Exploitation:

1. Reconnaissance: Use Shodan or Google dorks to find vulnerable sites (e.g., inurl:/wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/).
2. Access Logs: Send a GET request to the log file:

   curl -X GET http://target.com/wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/meta-api-logs.log
   

3. Extract Data: Parse the log file for sensitive information (e.g., API keys, user IDs).

   curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/meta-api-logs.log | grep -E 'api_key|token|secret'
   

No exploit code is publicly available (POC_STATUS: None).

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for requests to /wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/ paths.
• Alert on unusual access patterns to log files.

Defense:

• Disable "Meta API logs" setting in the plugin.
• Apply the patch (update to version 11.1.5.1 or later).
• Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block direct access to log directories.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Paths:
  • /wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/meta-api-logs.log
  • /wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/*.log
• Network Indicators:
  • HTTP requests to the above paths with status 200.
  • User-Agent strings from scanning tools (e.g., curl, wget).
• Log Entries:
  • Presence of API keys, tokens, or user metadata in log files.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_14280_PixelYourSite_Log_Exposure {
    meta:
        description = "Detects exposed PixelYourSite log files containing sensitive data"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-14280"
    strings:
        $log_header = "Meta API Log" ascii wide nocase
        $sensitive = /(api_key|access_token|secret|password)/ ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        $log_header and $sensitive
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-14280 - PixelYourSite Log File Access
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests to PixelYourSite log files
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-stem:
            - '/wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/*.log'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin access for debugging
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> $HOME_NET any (msg:"CVE-2025-14280 - PixelYourSite Log File Access"; flow:to_server,established; content:"/wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/"; http_uri; nocase; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Update Plugin: Upgrade to version 11.1.5.1 or later.
2. Disable Logging: Turn off "Meta API logs" in the plugin settings.
3. Remove Exposed Logs: Delete any existing log files from /wp-content/uploads/pixelyoursite/.

Long-Term Measures:

• Implement file access controls (e.g., .htaccess deny rules) for all plugin log directories.
• Regularly audit plugin settings for unnecessary debug features.
• Use a WAF to block direct access to sensitive paths.

Patch Verification:

• Check plugin version: wp plugin list | grep pixelyoursite
• Confirm .htaccess file exists in the log directory.

Valters IT
DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence