CVE-2025-67920

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-67920 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Neo Ocular WordPress theme by Elated-Themes, versions prior to 1.2. The vulnerability stems from improper control of a filename used in a PHP include/require statement, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to read arbitrary files from the server's filesystem. This can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information such as database credentials, configuration files, and source code. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the ease of exploitation and the high confidentiality impact. No public proof-of-concept (PoC) or patch details are currently available, but the vendor has acknowledged the issue.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects a WordPress theme distributed via the Elated-Themes marketplace and potentially bundled with other WordPress packages. Organizations using the Neo Ocular theme should treat this as a supply chain risk, as the theme may be included in pre-built WordPress installations or purchased through third-party resellers. Verify the integrity of the theme package and ensure it is obtained from the official vendor.

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: Network (AV:N) – Exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – No special conditions required.
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction: None (UI:N) – No user action required.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – Vulnerability does not affect other components.
• Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H) – Full file read capability.
• Integrity Impact: None (I:N) – No file modification.
• Availability Impact: None (A:N) – No denial of service.

Threat Level: High. The vulnerability is trivial to exploit and can lead to complete disclosure of sensitive server-side files.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the Neo Ocular theme's PHP code, likely within a template or plugin file that uses a user-supplied parameter (e.g., page, file, or template) in a PHP include() or require() statement without proper sanitization. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem using path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd).

Root Cause: The theme fails to validate or sanitize the filename before passing it to an include/require function. This is a classic PHP LFI vulnerability (CWE-98). The attacker can read any file readable by the web server user, including:

• /etc/passwd (user enumeration)
• /var/www/html/wp-config.php (WordPress database credentials)
• /proc/self/environ (environment variables)
• Application source code

Exploitation Scenario:

1. Attacker identifies a vulnerable parameter in the theme (e.g., ?template=default).
2. Attacker modifies the parameter to include a path traversal payload: ?template=../../../../etc/passwd%00 (null byte injection may be needed for older PHP versions).
3. The server includes the specified file, outputting its contents in the HTTP response.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (Neo Ocular < 1.2):

<?php
// vulnerable.php
$template = $_GET['template'];
include('templates/' . $template . '.php');
?>

Patched Code (Neo Ocular >= 1.2):

<?php
// patched.php
$allowed_templates = array('default', 'fullwidth', 'sidebar');
$template = $_GET['template'];
if (in_array($template, $allowed_templates)) {
    include('templates/' . $template . '.php');
} else {
    // Handle error
    echo 'Invalid template.';
}
?>

The patched version uses a whitelist of allowed template names, preventing arbitrary file inclusion.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Lab Setup:

1. Install WordPress with Neo Ocular theme version < 1.2.
2. Ensure the vulnerable parameter (e.g., template) is exposed in a URL.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Basic LFI: http://target.com/?template=../../../../etc/passwd
2. Null Byte Injection (PHP < 5.3.4): http://target.com/?template=../../../../etc/passwd%00
3. Wrapper-based LFI (if allow_url_include is on): http://target.com/?template=php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=../../../../etc/passwd

Example cURL command:

curl -v "http://target.com/?template=../../../../etc/passwd"

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %2e%2e%2f).
• Look for requests to the vulnerable parameter with unusual file paths.
• Use WAF rules to block path traversal sequences.

Hunting:

• Search for include or require statements in the theme's PHP files that use $_GET, $_POST, or $_REQUEST without validation.
• Check for the presence of the vulnerable parameter in the theme's codebase.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• URL Patterns: ?template=../../../../etc/passwd, ?template=php://filter/...
• Log Entries: HTTP 200 responses to requests containing ../ or %2e%2e%2f in the template parameter.
• File Access: Unauthorized reads of /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, wp-config.php, or other sensitive files.
• Network Traffic: Outbound connections from the server if the attacker uses remote file inclusion (though this is LFI, not RFI).

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_67920_LFI_NeoOcular {
    meta:
        description = "Detects attempts to exploit CVE-2025-67920 LFI in Neo Ocular theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-67920"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /(\.\.\/|\.\.\\){2,}/ nocase
        $vuln_param = /[?&]template\s*=/ nocase
        $sensitive_file = /(etc\/passwd|wp-config\.php|\.env|proc\/self\/environ)/ nocase
    condition:
        $vuln_param and ($path_traversal or $sensitive_file)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-67920 Neo Ocular LFI Exploitation
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests attempting to exploit LFI in Neo Ocular theme
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'GET'
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - 'template='
            - '../'
            - '%2e%2e%2f'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of path traversal in other applications (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-67920 Neo Ocular LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"template="; http_uri; content:"../"; distance:0; within:100; http_uri; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Upgrade the Neo Ocular theme to version 1.2 or later.
2. Workaround: If patching is not possible, disable the vulnerable parameter by modifying the theme's PHP code to use a whitelist of allowed values.
3. WAF Rules: Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing ../ or %2e%2e%2f in the template parameter.
4. File Permissions: Ensure sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php) are not readable by the web server user.
5. PHP Configuration: Set allow_url_include = Off and open_basedir to restrict file access.
6. Monitoring: Enable detailed logging and alert on path traversal patterns.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers