CVE-2025-69065

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69065 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the Snow Mountain WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. 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, including configuration files, source code, and potentially credentials. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Snow Mountain theme up to and including version 1.4.3. As of this report, no official patch has been released, and the vendor's status is marked as UNKNOWN/UNPATCHED.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability resides in a WordPress theme, which is part of the broader WordPress ecosystem. The theme is distributed through the official WordPress theme repository and potentially through third-party marketplaces. The lack of a patch poses a significant supply chain risk for any website using this theme. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain a foothold in the server, potentially pivoting to other applications or data hosted on the same infrastructure. Organizations should immediately inventory any use of the Snow Mountain theme and treat it as a high-risk component.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 8.1 (High)
• 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: None (I:N)
• Availability Impact: None (A:N)

The high CVSS score is driven by the low attack complexity and the lack of required privileges or user interaction. An attacker can simply send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint to read sensitive files from the server. The impact is limited to confidentiality, but the potential for information disclosure is severe.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a classic PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) issue. It occurs when a PHP script uses user-supplied input to construct a file path for an include() or require() statement without proper sanitization or validation. In the context of the Snow Mountain theme, the vulnerable code likely resides in a function that loads template parts or configuration files based on a parameter passed via GET or POST request.

The attack vector is straightforward: an attacker can manipulate a parameter (e.g., ?template=../../../../etc/passwd) to traverse directories and include arbitrary files. The PHP engine will then execute or output the contents of the specified file. If the file contains PHP code, it will be executed; otherwise, its raw content will be displayed.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion'). While the description mentions "PHP Remote File Inclusion," the actual exploitation is limited to local files due to the allow_url_include PHP directive being typically disabled. However, the term "Remote" in the CWE title is a misnomer in this context.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no official patch is available, the following is a hypothetical example of the vulnerable code and a potential fix.

Vulnerable Code (snowmountain/includes/template-loader.php):

<?php
function snowmountain_load_template($template_name) {
    $template_path = get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template_name . '.php';
    if (file_exists($template_path)) {
        include($template_path);
    }
}

// Called via a URL like: ?template=header
if (isset($_GET['template'])) {
    snowmountain_load_template($_GET['template']);
}
?>

Patched Code (Hypothetical Fix):

<?php
function snowmountain_load_template($template_name) {
    // Whitelist allowed templates
    $allowed_templates = array('header', 'footer', 'sidebar', 'content');
    if (!in_array($template_name, $allowed_templates)) {
        wp_die('Invalid template.');
    }
    $template_path = get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template_name . '.php';
    if (file_exists($template_path)) {
        include($template_path);
    }
}

if (isset($_GET['template'])) {
    snowmountain_load_template(sanitize_file_name($_GET['template']));
}
?>

The patched code introduces a whitelist of allowed template names and uses sanitize_file_name() to remove path traversal characters. This prevents the inclusion of arbitrary files.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would send a crafted HTTP request to the WordPress site. The exact vulnerable parameter may vary, but common targets include template, file, page, or include.

Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Request:

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

If successful, the response will contain the contents of the /etc/passwd file.

Advanced Exploitation:

• Reading WordPress Configuration: ?template=../../../../wp-config
• Log Poisoning (if writable logs): Inject PHP code into access logs via User-Agent, then include the log file.
• PHP Wrappers: Use php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=index.php to read source code.

Lab Setup:

1. Install a local WordPress instance.
2. Install the Snow Mountain theme (version <= 1.4.3).
3. Activate the theme.
4. Send the PoC request to verify LFI.

Blue Team (Detection & Response)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for suspicious parameters containing ../ or php://.
• Look for requests to the theme's template loader with unexpected file paths.
• Use the detection rules provided in the next section.

Response:

1. Immediately isolate the affected server.
2. Review access logs to identify the scope of the attack.
3. If possible, temporarily disable the theme and switch to a default WordPress theme.
4. Apply virtual patching via WAF rules (e.g., block ../ in query strings).
5. Conduct a full forensic analysis to determine if any files were exfiltrated.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:

  • HTTP requests containing ../ in query parameters (e.g., ?template=../../etc/passwd).
  • Requests to /wp-content/themes/snowmountain/ with suspicious parameters.
  • User-Agent strings containing PHP code (for log poisoning attempts).

• File System IOCs:

  • Unexpected files in the web root (e.g., shell.php).
  • Modified .htaccess files.
  • Unusual entries in PHP error logs.

• Log IOCs:

  • Access log entries with %00 (null byte) or php:// in the URI.
  • Error logs showing include() failures for non-existent files.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69065_LFI_SnowMountain {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts targeting Snow Mountain theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-69065"
    strings:
        $s1 = "snowmountain" nocase
        $s2 = "template=" nocase
        $s3 = "../" nocase
        $s4 = "php://" nocase
    condition:
        all of ($s1, $s2) and 1 of ($s3, $s4)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-69065 Snow Mountain LFI Attempt
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects LFI attempts against Snow Mountain WordPress theme
author: Valters IT
date: 2025/04/10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - 'template=../'
            - 'template=php://'
            - 'file=../'
            - 'include=../'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of path traversal in other contexts (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-69065 Snow Mountain LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"snowmountain"; http_uri; nocase; content:"template="; http_uri; nocase; pcre:"/(\.\.\/|php\:\/\/)/Ui"; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the Snow Mountain theme and switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four).
2. Apply a virtual patch using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block requests containing ../ or php:// in query parameters.
3. Review server logs for any signs of exploitation.

Long-Term Fix:

• Since no official patch is available, consider replacing the theme with a supported alternative.
• If you must continue using the theme, manually patch the vulnerable code by implementing a whitelist of allowed files and using sanitize_file_name().
• Monitor the vendor's website for any future security updates.

General Best Practices:

• Keep all WordPress themes and plugins updated.
• Implement the principle of least privilege for file permissions.
• Regularly audit code for insecure include()/require() statements.
• Use a security plugin (e.g., Wordfence) to add an extra layer of protection.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers