Kirki app archives permit Zip Slip file writes and code execution

Kirki through 6.0.13 accepts a user-supplied app src in install_app, update_app and get_kirki_template_from_zip, downloads that archive and passes it to extract_zip_file() without blocking traversing entry names. A user with the plugin's custom-level access can write files outside the intended directory and potentially place executable PHP for server-side code execution.

CVE / CNA score 4.9 CVSS 3.1 · security@wordfence.com

NVD score Pending NVD has not published its own CVSS assessment.

Component: Kirki – Freeform Page Builder, Website Builder & Customizer
Plugin slug: kirki
Affected: <= 6.0.13
Safe version: > 6.0.13
Published: Aug 01, 2026
Weakness: CWE-22 — Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

This CVE was published Aug 01, 2026 and is one of 20 known issues for this plugin.

What to do

Update, patch or deactivate.

Update to a corrected release after 6.0.13. Review app sources, extracted files and writable directories for traversing archives or PHP payloads, rotate exposed secrets, and investigate the host if a file executed.

A safe version is available, so updating to that version or later is the preferred remediation. If an immediate update is not practical, consider a targeted application patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality.

Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.

Source record

Technical description

The Kirki – Freeform Page Builder, Website Builder & Customizer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Path Traversal (Zip Slip) in all versions up to, and including, 6.0.13 via the extract_zip_file function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with custom-level access and above, to write arbitrary files on the server, which can allow for remote code execution. The install_app, update_app, and get_kirki_template_from_zip code paths accept a user-supplied app src value to construct the download URL, and no sanitization is applied to prevent a crafted ZIP from being fetched and extracted with path-traversing entry names that escape the intended destination directory.

CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

References

Primary and upstream sources

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