CVE-2025-69058

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69058 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the AncoraThemes PartyMaker WordPress theme, affecting versions up to and including 1.1.15. 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 configuration files containing database credentials, source code, or other critical data. The CVSS score of 8.1 (High) reflects the ease of exploitation and the potential for significant confidentiality impact. As of this report, no official patch has been released, and no public proof-of-concept (PoC) code is available.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects a WordPress theme distributed via the AncoraThemes marketplace and potentially through third-party nulled theme repositories. Users who obtained the theme from unofficial sources are at higher risk due to the lack of vendor support. The theme is not available on the official WordPress.org repository, meaning automatic updates are not provided. Organizations should verify the integrity of their theme files and consider replacing the theme if a patch is not forthcoming.

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 (AV): Network – The vulnerability can be exploited remotely.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low – No special conditions are required.
• Privileges Required (PR): None – No authentication is needed.
• User Interaction (UI): None – No user action is required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged – The exploit does not affect other components.
• Confidentiality (C): High – Sensitive files can be read.
• Integrity (I): None – File modification is not possible.
• Availability (A): None – Service availability is not impacted.

Threat Level: High. The vulnerability is trivial to exploit and can lead to full server compromise if sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php) are disclosed.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the partymaker theme's PHP code, likely within a template or plugin file that uses a user-supplied parameter to construct a file path for inclusion. The PHP include() or require() function is called with a filename that is not properly sanitized, allowing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to escape the intended directory.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

$file = $_GET['file'];
include("templates/" . $file . ".php");

An attacker can supply a value like ../../../../etc/passwd%00 to include arbitrary files. The null byte (%00) may be used to terminate the string and bypass the .php extension append, though modern PHP versions have mitigated null byte injection. More likely, the attacker can use path traversal to include files with existing extensions, such as wp-config.php (which is a PHP file but will be executed, potentially exposing database credentials).

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion'), but in this case it is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) because the attacker can only include files already present on the server. However, if allow_url_include is enabled, it could escalate to Remote File Inclusion (RFI).

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no official patch is available, the following is a hypothetical fix based on common secure coding practices.

Vulnerable Code (hypothetical):

<?php
$template = $_GET['template'];
include("theme-parts/" . $template . ".php");
?>

Patched Code (hypothetical):

<?php
$allowed_templates = ['header', 'footer', 'sidebar'];
$template = $_GET['template'];
if (in_array($template, $allowed_templates, true)) {
    include("theme-parts/" . $template . ".php");
} else {
    // Handle error
    echo "Invalid template.";
}
?>

The patched version uses a whitelist of allowed values, preventing any arbitrary file inclusion.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• Target running WordPress with PartyMaker theme <= 1.1.15.
• A parameter (e.g., ?file=, ?template=, ?page=) that is passed to an include() statement.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter by fuzzing the theme's URLs.
2. Attempt to read /etc/passwd:

   http://target.com/?file=../../../../etc/passwd
   

3. If the server appends .php, try using a null byte (if PHP < 5.3.4) or a path traversal to an existing PHP file like wp-config.php:

   http://target.com/?file=../../../../wp-config
   

4. If successful, the contents of wp-config.php will be displayed (or executed, revealing database credentials).

Example curl command:

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

Blue Team (Detection & Hardening)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for suspicious path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %2e%2e%2f).
• Look for requests to theme files with unexpected parameters.
• Use WAF rules to block ../ sequences in query strings.

Hardening:

• Disable allow_url_include in php.ini.
• Apply input validation and whitelisting for all file inclusion parameters.
• If possible, replace the vulnerable theme with a patched version or an alternative.
• Restrict file permissions so that sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php) are not readable by the web server user.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:
  • HTTP requests containing ../ or %2e%2e%2f in query parameters.
  • Requests to wp-content/themes/partymaker/ with suspicious parameters.
• File System IOCs:
  • Unexpected inclusion of files like /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or wp-config.php in web server logs.
• Log Entries:
  • Apache/Nginx access logs showing GET /?file=../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1 with a 200 response.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69058_LFI_Detection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects attempts to exploit CVE-2025-69058 in PartyMaker theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-69058"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /(\.\.\/|%2e%2e%2f|%252e%252e%252f)/
        $vuln_param = /(file|template|page|include)=/
    condition:
        $path_traversal and $vuln_param
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-69058 PartyMaker LFI Attempt
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts targeting PartyMaker 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'
            - '..%2f'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths in some applications
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-69058 PartyMaker LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"GET"; http_method; content:"../"; http_uri; nocase; content:"partymaker"; http_uri; nocase; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the vulnerable theme – Switch to a different, actively maintained WordPress theme.
2. Apply virtual patching – Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block path traversal patterns.
3. Restrict file permissions – Ensure the web server user cannot read sensitive files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php (though the latter is often readable by design).

Long-term Fix:

• The vendor (AncoraThemes) must release a patched version that implements input validation and whitelisting. Until then, users should consider the theme insecure and replace it.

Workaround:

• If the theme cannot be replaced immediately, modify the vulnerable PHP file to add a whitelist of allowed files. This requires code-level access and should be done by a developer.

Valters IT – Securing Your Digital Frontier