CVE-2025-14429

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-14429 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the WordPress ecosystem, specifically the ThemeMove AeroLand theme (versions up to and including 1.6.6). The vulnerability stems from improper control of filenames used in PHP include/require statements, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, such as reading configuration files (e.g., wp-config.php), source code, or other system files. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the ease of exploitation and potential for significant data exposure. No public proof-of-concept (PoC) or patch is currently available, making this a high-priority unpatched threat for WordPress sites using the affected theme.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress theme ecosystem. The AeroLand theme is distributed via ThemeMove and potentially through third-party marketplaces. Since no patch is available, users are advised to consider the theme as compromised in its current state. The lack of an official patch increases the risk of supply chain attacks where malicious actors could inject backdoors or exfiltrate data through the LFI vector.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) – Exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – No special conditions required.
• Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction (UI): None (N) – No user action required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged (U) – The vulnerable component remains the same.
• Confidentiality (C): High (H) – Full file read capability.
• Integrity (I): None (N) – No file modification.
• Availability (A): None (N) – No denial of service.

Threat Level: High. The combination of network exploitability, no authentication, and high confidentiality impact makes this a severe risk for any site running the vulnerable theme.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) in the AeroLand theme. The theme likely uses a parameter (e.g., page, template, or include) in a PHP function like include() or require() without proper sanitization. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

<?php
$page = $_GET['page'];
include("pages/" . $page . ".php");
?>

An attacker could request:

http://target.com/?page=../../../../etc/passwd%00

The null byte (%00) or path traversal (../) allows reading files outside the intended directory. In PHP versions before 5.3.4, null byte injection works; in later versions, path traversal alone may suffice if the extension is not appended.

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program), which directly leads to LFI.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, we can only hypothesize the vulnerable code and a potential fix.

Vulnerable Code (Hypothetical):

<?php
// In a theme file like template-loader.php
$template = $_GET['template'];
include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
?>

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

<?php
$allowed_templates = array('home', 'single', 'page', 'archive');
$template = $_GET['template'];
if ( in_array( $template, $allowed_templates ) ) {
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
} else {
    // Default template
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/page.php' );
}
?>

The fix involves whitelisting allowed values and rejecting any input not in the list.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Lab Setup:

1. Install WordPress with AeroLand theme version 1.6.6.
2. Ensure the server is accessible (e.g., localhost or a test domain).

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter (e.g., page, template, include). Common locations are in URL query strings or POST data.
2. Use path traversal to read sensitive files:

   http://target.com/?page=../../../../wp-config.php
   

   If the extension is appended, try null byte injection:

   http://target.com/?page=../../../../wp-config.php%00
   

3. Alternatively, use PHP wrappers for more advanced attacks:

   http://target.com/?page=php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=../../../../wp-config.php
   

4. The response will contain the file contents (or base64-encoded).

Automated Scanning: Use tools like wfuzz or ffuf to fuzz parameters:

ffuf -u http://target.com/?FUZZ=../../../../etc/passwd -w /usr/share/wordlists/parameters.txt -fc 404

Blue Team (Detection & Prevention)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %00, php://).
• Look for requests to theme files with suspicious parameters.
• Use WAF rules to block LFI attempts.

Prevention:

• Disable the theme until a patch is available.
• Implement input validation and whitelisting.
• Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with LFI signatures.
• Restrict file permissions to prevent reading sensitive files.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• URL Patterns:
  • ?page=../../../../etc/passwd
  • ?template=php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=index
  • ?include=....//....//....//....//wp-config.php
• Log Entries:
  • GET /?page=..%2f..%2f..%2f..%2fetc/passwd HTTP/1.1
  • GET /wp-content/themes/aeroland/?template=../../../../wp-config.php
• File Access:
  • Unauthorized reads of /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, .htaccess, or other sensitive files.
• Network Traffic:
  • Outbound connections from the web server to unknown IPs (if LFI leads to RFI or data exfiltration).

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_14429_LFI_Detection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts targeting AeroLand theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-14429"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /\.\.\/|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e%5c/
        $php_wrapper = /php:\/\//
        $sensitive_file = /(wp-config|etc\/passwd|\.htaccess|config\.php)/
    condition:
        any of ($path_traversal) and any of ($php_wrapper) or any of ($sensitive_file)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-14429 LFI Attempt on AeroLand Theme
id: 7a8b9c0d-1e2f-3a4b-5c6d-7e8f9a0b1c2d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests with path traversal or PHP wrappers targeting AeroLand theme
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'GET'
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '..%2f'
            - '..%5c'
            - '%2e%2e%2f'
            - 'php://'
            - 'wp-config.php'
            - '/etc/passwd'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of path-like parameters (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> $HOME_NET any (msg:"CVE-2025-14429 LFI Attempt on AeroLand Theme"; flow:to_server,established; content:"GET"; http_method; content:"aeroland"; http_uri; content:"../"; http_uri; nocase; content:"wp-config.php"; http_uri; nocase; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Disable the AeroLand theme and switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four) until a patch is released.
2. Workaround: If the theme must be used, implement a WAF rule to block LFI patterns (e.g., ../, php://, file://).
3. Long-term: Monitor ThemeMove's official channels for a patched version (>= 1.6.7). Apply the update immediately when available.
4. Hardening: Ensure wp-config.php is not readable by the web server user (chmod 600) and move sensitive files outside the web root.
5. Audit: Review server logs for any signs of exploitation and rotate any exposed credentials.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers