# CVE-2025-2636: InstaWP Connect - Path Traversal

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2025-2636 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2025-2636

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'))
- **Tags:** cms, wordpress

## Description

The InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 0.1.0.85 via the 'instawp-database-manager' parameter. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to include and execute arbitrary files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files. This can be used to bypass access controls, obtain sensitive data, or achieve code execution in cases where images and other “safe” file types can be uploaded and included.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2025-2636](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2025-2636) is a critical path traversal vulnerability in the InstaWP Connect – 1-click WP Staging & Migration WordPress plugin, affecting all versions up to 0.1.0.85. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the 'instawp-database-manager' parameter to include and execute arbitrary files on the server, potentially leading to remote code execution, data theft, or bypassing access controls. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to upload and execute malicious PHP code, putting affected WordPress sites at significant risk.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 17th of June 2025.

According to CrowdSec data, while opportunistic exploitation dominates, a portion of threat actors trying to exploit CVE-2025-2636 apply basic targeting methods such as port or service detection. This indicates emerging patterns of selective targeting.
CrowdSec data also reveals a clear uptick in attacks involving CVE-2025-2636 over the past week. Activity is above the usual baseline, suggesting growing attention from attackers. This may reflect rising awareness, recent exploit releases, or expanded targeting efforts.

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by sending filesystem-paths to any url using the `instawp-database-manager` parameter, leading to Local File Inclusion exploits.

## Timeline

- 2025-04-11: CVE Published. CVE-2025-2636 is published to NVD.
- 2025-06-17: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2025-2636 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-06-25: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2025-2636 for the first time.

## References

- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2025/CVE-2025-2636.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2025-2636) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2025-2636. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.