---
id: "CVE-2019-25779"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2019-25779"]
title: "WooThemes Diarise: unauthenticated file read exposes server files like /etc/passwd"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.7
epss: 0.00447
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "Diarise", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 1.5.9", "ecosystem": "wordpress"}]
ecosystems: ["wordpress"]
tags: ["diarise", "package", "woothemes", "wordpress"]
not_affected_if: ["diarise-not-installed", "not-installed"]
published_at: "2026-10-22T11:17:03+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:30+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T07:15:51+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-25779", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:30+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T23:44:08+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2019-25779", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-24T07:15:51+00:00"}]
---

# WooThemes Diarise: unauthenticated file read exposes server files like /etc/passwd

WooThemes Diarise through version 1.5.9 lets anyone send a GET request to download.php with a file:// path in the calendar parameter. An attacker can read arbitrary files on the server, such as /etc/passwd, without logging in.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- wordpress:Diarise affected <= 1.5.9 fixed ?

## How to check

Look for a Diarise theme/plugin under wp-content/themes or wp-content/plugins and check its version (<=1.5.9 affected). Test: a GET to download.php with calendar=file:///etc/passwd returns a root: line if vulnerable.

## Fix

No patched version found in sources. Remove or replace Diarise; as a stopgap block direct access to download.php in the web server config.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:30+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-25779
- 2026-10-23T23:44:08+00:00 analyst — NVD page returned no content; Packet Storm 2019 disclosure (via search snippet, page text not fetched) confirms Diarise 1.5.9 download.php file:// read PoC public. No vendor advisory or fixed version found; WooThemes product appears abandoned. Fix unknown.
- 2026-10-24T07:15:51+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2019-25779

## Documents

- [advisory] NVD CVE-2019-25779 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-25779
- [poc] Diarise 1.5.9 local file disclosure (Packet Storm) https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152773/wpdiarise159-disclose.txt

## From the sources

WooThemes Diarise through 1.5.9 contains a file read vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files through the calendar parameter of download.php. Attackers can send GET requests with file:// scheme paths to the calendar parameter to disclose sensitive files like /etc/passwd. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-19.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_