CVE-2025-67940

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-67940 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Powerlift WordPress theme developed by Mikado-Themes. The vulnerability stems from improper control of a filename used in an include/require statement, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, including configuration files, source code, and potentially credentials. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the ease of exploitation and the high impact on confidentiality. As of this report, no official patch has been confirmed, and no public proof-of-concept code is available.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability resides in a WordPress theme, which is distributed through the WordPress theme repository and potentially via commercial channels. The supply chain risk is elevated because:

• No patch available: Users cannot update to a secure version.
• Widespread use: The theme may be used on thousands of sites.
• No known workaround: Without a patch, mitigation relies on custom security measures.

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) – The vulnerable component and the impacted component are the same.
• 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 easily exploitable and can lead to complete disclosure of sensitive server files.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) in the Powerlift theme. The theme likely uses a dynamic include statement where a user-controllable parameter (e.g., page, template, or file) is passed to a function like include() or require() without proper sanitization. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to include arbitrary files from the server, such as /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other sensitive files.

Root Cause: The theme fails to validate or sanitize the filename before using it in an include/require statement. This is a classic CWE-98 vulnerability.

Attack Flow:

1. Attacker identifies a parameter in the theme that controls file inclusion (e.g., ?page=...).
2. Attacker sends a request with a path traversal payload (e.g., ?page=../../../../etc/passwd).
3. The server includes the specified file, outputting its contents in the response.

Impact: An attacker can read any file on the server that the web server user has access to, including:

• WordPress configuration (wp-config.php) containing database credentials.
• Server configuration files.
• Source code of other plugins/themes.
• Log files containing sensitive data.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

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

Vulnerable Code (Hypothetical):

<?php
// In a theme template file (e.g., page.php)
$page = $_GET['page'];
include( $page . '.php' );
?>

Patched Code (Expected):

<?php
// Secure version with whitelisting
$allowed_pages = array('home', 'about', 'contact');
$page = $_GET['page'];
if (in_array($page, $allowed_pages)) {
    include( $page . '.php' );
} else {
    // Default or error handling
    include('home.php');
}
?>

The patched version would use a whitelist of allowed files, preventing arbitrary file inclusion.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress site running Powerlift theme version < 3.2.1.
• Knowledge of the vulnerable parameter (e.g., page, template, file).

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter: Use a web fuzzer (e.g., Burp Suite, ffuf) to find parameters that cause file inclusion errors.
2. Craft the payload: Use path traversal to read sensitive files.
   • Example: http://target.com/?page=../../../../etc/passwd
   • Example: http://target.com/?page=../../../wp-config
3. Execute: Send the request and observe the response for file contents.

Lab Setup:

• Install a local WordPress instance with Powerlift theme version 3.2.0.
• Use a tool like docker to set up a vulnerable environment.
• Example Docker command:

  docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name wp-vuln wordpress:latest
  

  Then install the vulnerable theme manually.

Proof-of-Concept (No public code available):

# Attempt to read /etc/passwd
curl -v "http://target.com/?page=../../../../etc/passwd"

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor for path traversal patterns in GET/POST parameters (e.g., ../, ..\\, %2e%2e%2f).
• Look for requests to non-existent PHP files that return file contents.
• Use WAF rules to block path traversal attempts.

Mitigation:

• Apply virtual patching via WAF (e.g., ModSecurity rule to block ../).
• Disable the vulnerable functionality if possible.
• Monitor logs for suspicious file inclusion attempts.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:

  • HTTP requests containing ../ or ..\\ in parameters.
  • Requests to ?page=, ?template=, or ?file= with path traversal.
  • Responses containing /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other sensitive file contents.

• File System IOCs:

  • Unexpected inclusion of files outside the web root.
  • Presence of log entries showing file read attempts.

• Log IOCs:

  • Apache/Nginx access logs showing GET /?page=../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1 with 200 response.
  • PHP error logs showing include(): Failed opening errors.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_67940_LFI_Detection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects path traversal attempts targeting Powerlift theme LFI"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-67940"
    strings:
        $path_traversal1 = "../"
        $path_traversal2 = "..\\"
        $path_traversal3 = "%2e%2e%2f"
        $path_traversal4 = "%2e%2e/"
        $sensitive_file1 = "/etc/passwd"
        $sensitive_file2 = "wp-config.php"
        $sensitive_file3 = ".env"
    condition:
        any of ($path_traversal*) and any of ($sensitive_file*)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-67940 Powerlift Theme LFI Attempt
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests with path traversal patterns targeting Powerlift theme
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'GET'
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '../'
            - '..\\'
            - '%2e%2e%2f'
            - '%2e%2e/'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths in some applications
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-67940 Powerlift Theme LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"../"; http_uri; nocase; content:"/etc/passwd"; http_uri; nocase; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the vulnerable theme: Switch to a different theme until a patch is available.
2. Apply virtual patching: Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block path traversal patterns.
3. Restrict file permissions: Ensure the web server user has minimal read access to sensitive files.

Long-term Fix:

• Update the theme: Once a patched version (>= 3.2.1) is released, update immediately.
• Code review: If you have access to the source code, implement input validation and whitelisting for file inclusion parameters.

Workarounds:

• Use a security plugin (e.g., Wordfence) to block malicious requests.
• Modify .htaccess to block path traversal:

  RewriteEngine On
  RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.\\) [NC]
  RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
  

Monitoring:

• Enable detailed logging for web server and PHP errors.
• Set up alerts for path traversal patterns in logs.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers