CVE-2025-64205

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-64205 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the Jannah WordPress theme by TieLabs, affecting versions up to and including 7.6.0. The vulnerability stems from improper control of a filename used in a PHP include/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 containing database credentials, or potentially achieving remote code execution if combined with file upload capabilities. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the low attack complexity and network-based attack vector. As of this report, no official patch has been released, and no public proof-of-concept (PoC) or exploit code is available.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects the Jannah WordPress theme, which is distributed via the official WordPress theme repository and commercial marketplaces. Since it is a WordPress component, the supply chain risk is elevated: any site using an unpatched version of Jannah is directly exposed. Administrators must monitor for updates from TieLabs and consider temporary mitigations until a patch is available.

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: 8.1 (High)
• Attack Vector (AV): Network – The vulnerability can be exploited remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low – No special conditions or race conditions required.
• Privileges Required (PR): None – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction (UI): None – No user action required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged – The vulnerable component and the impacted component are the same.
• Confidentiality (C): High – Full file read capability.
• Integrity (I): None – No file modification.
• Availability (A): None – No denial of service.

Threat Level: High. The combination of network exploitability, no authentication, and high confidentiality impact makes this a prime target for automated scanning and exploitation.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability lies in the Jannah theme's PHP code, specifically in a function that uses include() or require() with a filename derived from user input (e.g., via $_GET, $_POST, or $_COOKIE). The theme likely implements a template loading mechanism that accepts a file parameter without proper sanitization or validation.

Root Cause: The application fails to validate the filename against an allowlist of permitted files or directories. An attacker can supply path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd) to include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

$template = $_GET['template'];
include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );

If $template is not sanitized, an attacker can set it to ../../../../etc/passwd to read /etc/passwd.

Impact:

• Information Disclosure: Read sensitive files like wp-config.php, .htaccess, or system files.
• Potential RCE: If the attacker can upload a file (e.g., via a media uploader) and then include it, they can execute arbitrary PHP code.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

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

Vulnerable Code (Hypothetical):

// In Jannah theme's template loader
$file = $_GET['file'];
include( get_template_directory() . '/includes/' . $file . '.php' );

Patched Code (Expected):

// Whitelist allowed files
$allowed_files = array( 'header', 'footer', 'sidebar', 'content' );
$file = $_GET['file'];
if ( in_array( $file, $allowed_files ) ) {
    include( get_template_directory() . '/includes/' . $file . '.php' );
} else {
    // Handle error
    wp_die( 'Invalid file request.' );
}

Key Differences:

• The patched version uses a strict allowlist instead of directly using user input.
• It rejects any filename not in the predefined list, preventing path traversal.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress site running Jannah theme <= 7.6.0.
• The vulnerable parameter (e.g., file, template, page) must be identified via source code review or fuzzing.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter: Use a web fuzzer (e.g., ffuf) to test common parameters like file, template, include, page.
2. Craft the payload: Use path traversal to read sensitive files.

   GET /?file=../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
   Host: target.com
   

3. Read wp-config.php:

   GET /?file=../../../../wp-config HTTP/1.1
   

   (Note: The .php extension may be appended automatically, so omit it.)
4. Attempt RCE: If a file upload vulnerability exists (e.g., in a plugin), upload a PHP shell and include it:

   GET /?file=../../../../wp-content/uploads/2025/01/shell HTTP/1.1
   

Lab Setup:

• Use a local WordPress installation with Jannah theme 7.6.0.
• Install a vulnerable version from a trusted source (e.g., ThemeForest).
• Use Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP to intercept and modify requests.

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for suspicious GET parameters containing ../ or ..\.
• Look for requests to files outside the web root (e.g., /etc/passwd, /windows/win.ini).
• Use WAF rules to block path traversal patterns.

Defense:

• Immediate: Disable the vulnerable functionality by overriding the theme's template loader via a child theme.
• Long-term: Apply a virtual patch using a WAF (e.g., ModSecurity) to block path traversal attempts.
• Monitor: Check for unauthorized file reads in logs and alert on anomalies.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:

  • HTTP requests containing ../ or ..\ in query parameters.
  • Requests to files like /etc/passwd, /wp-config.php, /proc/self/environ.
  • User-Agent strings from known scanning tools (e.g., python-requests, curl).

• File System IOCs:

  • Unexpected access to /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or Windows equivalents.
  • Presence of webshells in upload directories (e.g., shell.php, cmd.php).

• Log IOCs:

  • Web server logs showing 200 responses for non-existent files like ../../../../etc/passwd.
  • PHP error logs with "include(): Failed opening" messages for path traversal strings.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_64205_Jannah_LFI {
    meta:
        description = "Detects path traversal attempts targeting Jannah theme LFI"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-64205"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /\.\.\/|\.\.\\/
        $sensitive_file = /etc\/passwd|wp-config\.php|proc\/self\/environ/
    condition:
        any of ($path_traversal) and any of ($sensitive_file)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-64205 Jannah Theme LFI Detection
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests with path traversal patterns targeting Jannah theme
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access_combined
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '..\/'
            - '..\\'
            - '/etc/passwd'
            - '/wp-config.php'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of path traversal in other applications (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-64205 Jannah Theme LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"..\/"; http_uri; nocase; content:"/etc/passwd"; http_uri; distance:0; within:100; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the vulnerable functionality: If possible, override the theme's template loading function via a child theme to restrict file inclusion to an allowlist.
2. Apply a WAF rule: Block requests containing ../ or ..\ in query parameters.
3. Monitor logs: Actively search for exploitation attempts.

Long-term Actions:

1. Patch: Await an official patch from TieLabs. Subscribe to their security advisories.
2. Update: Once a patch is released, update the Jannah theme immediately.
3. Harden: Ensure file permissions are restrictive (e.g., wp-config.php should be 600 or 440).
4. Backup: Maintain regular backups to recover from potential compromise.

Workaround (if patching is not possible):

• Use a security plugin like Wordfence to add virtual patching.
• Disable the theme's template loading feature by modifying the theme's functions.php (if you have developer access).

Valters IT