CVE-2025-63071

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-63071 is a medium-severity information disclosure vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin "Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme" (slug: auxin-elements) by Averta. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to retrieve embedded sensitive data from the application’s responses. This is classified as an Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data (CWE-201) issue, where the plugin inadvertently includes sensitive data (e.g., internal paths, database credentials, or API keys) in HTTP responses sent to the client.

The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.17.15. No official patch has been released, and no public exploit code or proof-of-concept is currently available. The EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating a very low probability of exploitation in the wild at this time, but the risk remains for sites using the plugin.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is part of the WordPress plugin ecosystem. The plugin is distributed via the official WordPress Plugin Directory and is installed on sites running the Phlox theme. Since no patch is available, site administrators must consider removing or disabling the plugin until a fix is released. The lack of a patch also means that supply chain risk is elevated, as the vendor has not addressed the issue.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 5.3 (Medium)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: Low (partial disclosure of sensitive data)
• Integrity Impact: None
• Availability Impact: None

The low confidentiality impact reflects that the vulnerability only exposes data that is embedded in the response, not full system compromise. However, the exposed data could include credentials or internal paths that aid further attacks.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the auxin-elements plugin, which provides shortcodes and extra features for the Phlox theme. The plugin likely processes user-supplied shortcodes or AJAX requests and, due to improper sanitization or output handling, includes sensitive information in the response.

Root Cause: The plugin fails to filter or mask sensitive data (e.g., database connection strings, file paths, or API tokens) when generating dynamic content. This could occur in:

• Shortcode handlers that output debug information.
• AJAX endpoints that return configuration data.
• Template rendering functions that leak internal variables.

Attack Vector: An unauthenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint (e.g., a shortcode or AJAX action) that triggers the plugin to include sensitive data in the response. The attacker then parses the response to extract the leaked information.

Impact: The leaked data can be used to:

• Map internal file paths for directory traversal attacks.
• Obtain database credentials for SQL injection or direct database access.
• Extract API keys for third-party services.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, a direct code comparison is not possible. However, based on the CWE, the vulnerable code likely resembles:

// Vulnerable: Directly outputs sensitive data
function auxin_shortcode_handler($atts) {
    $db_password = get_option('auxin_db_password');
    return "DB Password: " . $db_password;
}
add_shortcode('auxin_debug', 'auxin_shortcode_handler');

A patched version would remove or mask such data:

// Patched: Removes sensitive data from output
function auxin_shortcode_handler($atts) {
    // No sensitive data exposed
    return "Shortcode executed successfully.";
}
add_shortcode('auxin_debug', 'auxin_shortcode_handler');

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

1. Identify Target: Scan for WordPress sites using the auxin-elements plugin (e.g., via Shodan dorks or WPScan).
2. Enumerate Endpoints: Use a tool like Burp Suite or curl to discover vulnerable shortcodes or AJAX actions. Common endpoints include:
   • /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=auxin_get_debug_info
   • Shortcodes like [auxin_debug] or [auxin_config]
3. Craft Request: Send a request to the vulnerable endpoint. Example:

   curl -X POST "http://target.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" \
        -d "action=auxin_get_debug_info"
   

4. Extract Data: Parse the response for sensitive strings (e.g., DB_PASSWORD, API_KEY, ABSPATH).

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

1. Monitor Logs: Look for unusual requests to admin-ajax.php with unknown actions or shortcodes.
2. Harden Plugin: Disable the plugin if not essential. If required, apply a virtual patch via WAF (e.g., block requests containing auxin_get_debug_info).
3. Audit Code: Review the plugin’s source for any echo or return statements that output sensitive data.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network: HTTP requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action parameters like auxin_get_debug_info, auxin_config, or similar.
• File: Presence of the auxin-elements plugin directory at /wp-content/plugins/auxin-elements/.
• Response: HTTP responses containing strings such as DB_PASSWORD, API_KEY, ABSPATH, or WP_DEBUG.
• Logs: Web server logs showing repeated POST requests to admin-ajax.php with unknown actions.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule Detect_AuxinElements_InfoLeak {
    meta:
        description = "Detects attempts to exploit CVE-2025-63071 in auxin-elements plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-63071"
    strings:
        $action1 = "auxin_get_debug_info" ascii wide nocase
        $action2 = "auxin_config" ascii wide nocase
        $sensitive1 = "DB_PASSWORD" ascii wide nocase
        $sensitive2 = "API_KEY" ascii wide nocase
        $sensitive3 = "ABSPATH" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        any of ($action*) and any of ($sensitive*)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-63071 - Auxin Elements Information Disclosure
id: 7a8b9c0d-1e2f-3a4b-5c6d-7e8f9a0b1c2d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests targeting vulnerable auxin-elements endpoints
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - 'action=auxin_get_debug_info'
            - 'action=auxin_config'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin debugging
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (
    msg:"CVE-2025-63071 - Auxin Elements Information Disclosure Attempt";
    flow:to_server;
    content:"POST";
    http_method;
    content:"admin-ajax.php";
    http_uri;
    content:"action=auxin_get_debug_info";
    http_client_body;
    sid:1000001;
    rev:1;
    reference:cve,2025-63071;
    classtype:attempted-recon;
    priority:2;
)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Disable or remove the auxin-elements plugin until a patch is released.
2. Virtual Patching: Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block requests containing suspicious action parameters (e.g., auxin_get_debug_info).
3. Code Audit: If the plugin is critical, manually review its source code and remove any instances where sensitive data is output.
4. Monitor: Enable logging for all admin-ajax.php requests and review for anomalies.
5. Update: Watch the WordPress Plugin Directory for a patched version and apply it immediately when available.

Valters IT
DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence