CVE-2026-15991
Description
The File Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the connector function in all versions from 6.0 - 6.9. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to read and delete arbitrary files on the server, which can lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). The bypass is triggered by passing cmd=rm or cmf=file in the URL query string of a POST request: elFinder's bind registration reads the command exclusively from $_POST and therefore never registers the rm.pre permission handler, while the dispatcher reads from the merged $_GET+$_POST superglobal and executes the rm or file command unchecked against a volume that defaults to ABSPATH.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected products
1- Range: 6.0 - 6.9
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
9- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/file-manager/tags/6.9/backend/app/Http/Controllers/FileManagerController.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/file-manager/tags/6.9/backend/app/Http/Controllers/FileManagerController.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/file-manager/tags/6.9/backend/app/Providers/AccessControlProvider.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/file-manager/tags/6.9/backend/hooks/ajax.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/file-manager/tags/6.9/vendor/studio-42/elfinder/php/elFinder.class.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/file-manager/tags/6.9/vendor/studio-42/elfinder/php/elFinderConnector.class.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3632660/file-manager/trunk/backend/app/Http/Controllers/FileManagerController.phpnvd
- plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changesetnvd
- www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a041f15c-0e30-459b-8df7-0465c0bc268anvd
News mentions
1- Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report (August 3, 2026 to August 9, 2026)Wordfence Blog · Aug 14, 2026