CVE-2026-116617
Deferred Deferred - Pending Action

File Deletion in Motors WordPress Plugin

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-116617, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-11-05

Last updated on: 2026-11-05

Assigner: Wordfence

Description

The Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to File Deletion in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.128 The vulnerability exists because `stm_save_user_extra_fields()`, hooked to `personal_options_update`, writes the attacker-controlled `stm_dealer_logo_path` parameter directly to user meta without an ownership check binding the submitted path to the submitting user β€” unlike the `stm_payment_status` and `stm_lost_password_hash` fields, this field is not gated by a `manage_options` or `edit_users` capability check. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to delete image files belonging to other users under `wp-content/uploads` β€” including other users' avatars, dealer logos, and uploaded media β€” by storing a crafted path via their own profile and then triggering `unlink()` through the become-dealer form on their author page. Note that the two path guards (`stm_mvl_is_path_within_uploads` and `stm_mvl_is_allowed_image_file`) do restrict the attack surface to files with an image extension that resolve within the uploads basedir; files outside that directory, such as `wp-config.php` or plugin PHP files, cannot be reached.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-11-05
Last Modified
2026-11-05
Generated
2026-11-05
AI Q&A
2026-11-05
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-22 The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This WordPress plugin vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher to delete image files belonging to other users. The flaw exists in the plugin's user profile handling where the stm_dealer_logo_path parameter is written directly to user meta without verifying ownership. This enables attackers to craft paths that trigger file deletion via unlink() when the become-dealer form is accessed.

Detection Guidance

Check WordPress user profiles for unauthorized changes to the stm_dealer_logo_path field. Review logs for unlink() operations targeting wp-content/uploads. Inspect file deletion events in uploads directory.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized deletion of critical image files including user avatars, dealer logos, and uploaded media stored in wp-content/uploads. Attackers could remove important visual content, disrupt operations, or deface websites using the plugin. The impact is limited to image files within the uploads directory.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially impact compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by allowing unauthorized file deletion. Attackers with Subscriber-level access can delete image files belonging to other users, including avatars or dealer logos. This may lead to unauthorized data loss or integrity issues, which are concerns under GDPR's data integrity principles and HIPAA's safeguards for protected health information.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Motors plugin to the latest version beyond 1.4.128. Remove Subscriber-level access if not required. Monitor file deletions in wp-content/uploads directory.

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