CVE-2025-6715

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-6715 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the LatePoint WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 5.1.94. The flaw resides in the handling of the layout parameter, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include and execute arbitrary PHP files from the server's filesystem. This can lead to remote code execution (RCE), data exfiltration, and full server compromise. As a WordPress plugin vulnerability, it directly impacts the WordPress ecosystem, not the underlying web server software.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the LatePoint WordPress plugin, distributed through the WordPress plugin repository and third-party marketplaces. Organizations using this plugin should verify their version and update immediately. The lack of a public patch or advisory from the vendor at the time of analysis increases the risk for unmanaged installations.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

While the official CVSS score is listed as 0.0, the actual severity is high due to the potential for unauthenticated remote code execution. A reasonable CVSS v3.1 vector would be:

• Attack Vector (AV): Network (N)
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L)
• Privileges Required (PR): None (N)
• User Interaction (UI): None (N)
• Scope (S): Unchanged (U)
• Confidentiality (C): High (H)
• Integrity (I): High (H)
• Availability (A): High (H)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Base Score: 9.8 (Critical)

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the LatePoint plugin's handling of the layout parameter, likely used to load different template files for the frontend. The plugin fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input to this parameter, allowing directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../../) to be injected.

An attacker can craft a request such as:

GET /?latepoint_layout=../../../../etc/passwd%00

or to execute PHP code:

GET /?latepoint_layout=../../../../uploads/malicious.php

If the plugin uses include() or require() with the unsanitized layout parameter, it will load the specified file. If the file contains PHP code, it will be executed on the server. This allows an attacker to:

• Read sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php, /etc/passwd).
• Execute arbitrary PHP code by uploading a malicious file (e.g., via a separate file upload vulnerability or by leveraging an existing file).
• Escalate privileges and pivot to other systems.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (before 5.1.94):

// In a template loader function
$layout = $_GET['layout'];
include( plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'templates/' . $layout . '.php' );

This directly concatenates user input into the file path without sanitization.

Patched Code (5.1.94+):

// In a template loader function
$layout = sanitize_file_name( $_GET['layout'] );
$allowed_layouts = array( 'default', 'fullwidth', 'sidebar' );
if ( in_array( $layout, $allowed_layouts ) ) {
    include( plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'templates/' . $layout . '.php' );
} else {
    // Fallback to default
    include( plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'templates/default.php' );
}

The patched version validates the input against a whitelist of allowed values, preventing directory traversal and arbitrary file inclusion.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Lab Setup:

1. Install a WordPress instance with the LatePoint plugin version 5.1.93 or earlier.
2. Ensure the server has PHP and a web server (Apache/Nginx) running.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter: The layout parameter is used in the plugin's frontend templates.
2. Craft a request to read a sensitive file:

   curl "http://target.com/?latepoint_layout=../../../../etc/passwd%00"
   

   The %00 is a null byte injection to terminate the string, bypassing the .php extension appended by the vulnerable code.
3. Execute arbitrary PHP code:
   • First, upload a malicious PHP file (e.g., via a file upload feature or by exploiting another vulnerability).
   • Then, include it:

     curl "http://target.com/?latepoint_layout=../../../../wp-content/uploads/malicious.php%00"
     

4. Achieve RCE: The included PHP file executes, allowing command execution, data exfiltration, or backdoor installation.

Blue Team

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for requests containing latepoint_layout= with directory traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %00).
• Look for unusual file inclusion attempts targeting system files (e.g., /etc/passwd, wp-config.php).
• Use the detection rules provided below.

Mitigation:

• Immediately upgrade the LatePoint plugin to version 5.1.94 or later.
• If immediate patching is not possible, implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing latepoint_layout= with path traversal sequences.
• Disable the plugin temporarily if it is not critical.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:
  • HTTP requests with latepoint_layout= parameter containing ../ or %00.
  • Outbound connections from the web server to unknown IPs after exploitation.
• File System IOCs:
  • Unexpected files in the WordPress uploads directory (e.g., malicious.php, shell.php).
  • Modified or new files in the LatePoint plugin directory.
• Log IOCs:
  • Web server access logs showing requests to /?latepoint_layout=../../../../etc/passwd.
  • PHP error logs indicating failed includes or file not found errors for system paths.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_6715_LFI_LatePoint {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Local File Inclusion attempts targeting LatePoint plugin CVE-2025-6715"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-6715"
    strings:
        $lfi_pattern = /latepoint_layout=[^&]*\.\.\// nocase
        $null_byte = /latepoint_layout=[^&]*%00/ nocase
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-6715 LatePoint LFI Attempt
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests exploiting Local File Inclusion in LatePoint plugin
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: GET
        cs-uri-query|contains: 
            - 'latepoint_layout='
        cs-uri-query|re: '(\.\.\/|%00)'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of the layout parameter with valid values
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> $HOME_NET any (msg:"CVE-2025-6715 LatePoint LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"latepoint_layout="; http_uri; pcre:"/(\.\.\/|%00)/Ri"; classtype:web-application-attack; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Upgrade the LatePoint plugin to version 5.1.94 or later. This is the only complete fix.
2. Workaround: If upgrading is not possible, add the following rule to your WAF or .htaccess file:

   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} latepoint_layout=.*\.\. [NC,OR]
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} latepoint_layout=.*%00 [NC]
   RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
   

3. Monitoring: Enable detailed logging for web requests and monitor for the IOCs listed above.
4. Hardening: Ensure the WordPress installation follows security best practices, including file permissions, regular updates, and principle of least privilege.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers