The “Subscribe to Comments for WordPress” plugin is a popular tool that allows website visitors to receive email notifications when new comments are posted on articles they’ve engaged with. However, a significant security flaw, identified as CVE-2015-10133, was discovered in versions up to and including 2.1.2. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain control over your website.
Specifically, the plugin was vulnerable to what’s known as Local File Inclusion (LFI) through a part of its code that handles the “Path to header” value. This means an authenticated attacker, particularly one with administrative privileges, could trick the plugin into opening and running files already present on your server. If they could also upload other file types, like images containing malicious PHP code, they could then execute that code, potentially taking full control of your site, stealing sensitive data, or bypassing security measures.
CVE Details
Product: Subscribe to Comments for WordPress
CVE ID: CVE-2015-10133
Published: July 19, 2025
Severity: High
Status: Analyzed
Affected Products
The vulnerability impacts the “Subscribe to Comments for WordPress” plugin in all versions up to, and including, 2.1.2. If you are running any version within this range, your WordPress site could be at risk.
Current Status
This vulnerability has been thoroughly analyzed. Details regarding the flaw and its potential impact are publicly available, allowing administrators to understand the risks and take appropriate action.
Severity Level
Rated as HIGH severity with a CVSS score of 7.2, this vulnerability poses a serious threat. A successful exploit could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive information, or even deface your website. The risk is particularly high because it allows for arbitrary PHP code execution, which grants extensive control over the affected server.
Possible Solutions
The good news is that this vulnerability has been fixed. To secure your WordPress site, it is crucial to update your “Subscribe to Comments” plugin immediately. The issue was resolved in version 2.3 and later.
- Upgrade the Plugin: The most effective solution is to update your “Subscribe to Comments” plugin to version 2.3 or any newer available version. This update contains the necessary patches to close the Local File Inclusion loophole.
- Regular Updates: Always ensure all your WordPress plugins, themes, and the core WordPress installation are kept up-to-date. Regular updates are vital for maintaining a secure website.
- Principle of Least Privilege: Limit administrative access to trusted individuals only. In this case, the vulnerability requires administrative privileges, emphasizing the importance of strong access controls.
For more general security advice, consider reviewing your WordPress Security Best Practices and learning more about Understanding Local File Inclusion to protect against similar threats.
References
https://advisories.dxw.com/advisories/admin-only-local-file-inclusion-and-arbitrary-code-execution-in-subscribe-to-comments-2-1-2/
https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/132694/
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=1198281%40subscribe-to-comments&new=1198281%40subscribe-to-comments&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=
https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/Jul/71
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f92784a7-f2b3-47f8-b03f-4e234b57e40a?source=cve
