CVE-2025-69068

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69068 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Muji WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes, up to and including version 1.2.0. The vulnerability stems from improper control of a filename used in a PHP include/require statement, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, such as reading /etc/passwd, configuration files, or WordPress wp-config.php. The CVSS score is 8.1 (High), and no official patch has been released. Given the WordPress ecosystem context, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without authentication, and the theme is widely used in WordPress installations.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress ecosystem and the Muji theme. Since WordPress themes are distributed via the official WordPress repository or third-party marketplaces, the supply chain risk is moderate. Users who installed the theme from untrusted sources may be at higher risk. No package manager (NPM, PyPI, Go, Ruby) is involved; however, the theme's update mechanism within WordPress should be monitored. The lack of a patch means users must rely on manual mitigation or removal of the theme.

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 threat level is High due to the ease of exploitation and the potential for sensitive data exposure. The EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating low exploitation likelihood at this time, but this may change as proof-of-concept code emerges.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the Muji theme's PHP code where a filename parameter is passed to an include/require statement without proper sanitization. Specifically, the theme likely uses a function like include($_GET['file']); or similar, allowing an attacker to traverse directories using ../ sequences. Since the theme is part of WordPress, the vulnerable code is typically found in files like template-parts/header.php, functions.php, or custom page templates.

The attack vector is HTTP GET requests to the WordPress site with a crafted file parameter. For example:

http://target.com/wp-content/themes/muji/some-file.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd

This would include the /etc/passwd file, displaying its contents in the response. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program).

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (example):

<?php
// In a theme file like template-parts/load.php
$file = $_GET['file'];
include($file . '.php');
?>

Patched Code (hypothetical):

<?php
// Secure version using whitelist or path validation
$allowed_files = array('header', 'footer', 'sidebar');
$file = $_GET['file'];
if (in_array($file, $allowed_files)) {
    include($file . '.php');
} else {
    // Handle error
    echo 'Invalid file.';
}
?>

Since no official patch exists, users must implement their own mitigation, such as disabling the vulnerable functionality or using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress installation with Muji theme version <= 1.2.0.
• Knowledge of the vulnerable endpoint (e.g., /wp-content/themes/muji/some-file.php).

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter (e.g., file, template, include).
2. Craft a payload to read sensitive files:

   GET /wp-content/themes/muji/load.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
   Host: target.com
   

3. For WordPress-specific data:

   GET /wp-content/themes/muji/load.php?file=../../../../wp-config HTTP/1.1
   

   (Note: The .php extension may be appended automatically.)

Lab Setup:

• Use Docker to spin up a vulnerable WordPress instance:

  docker run -d --name wp-muji -p 8080:80 wordpress:latest
  # Then manually install Muji theme version 1.2.0
  

• Alternatively, use a local XAMPP/WAMP setup with WordPress and the vulnerable theme.

Blue Team

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for suspicious file parameters containing ../ or /etc/.
• Look for requests to theme files with unusual query strings.

Mitigation:

• Implement a WAF rule to block path traversal patterns.
• Disable the vulnerable theme file or remove the theme entirely.
• Use a security plugin like Wordfence to add virtual patching.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Paths: /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, /wp-config.php, /proc/self/environ
• HTTP Requests: GET requests with file=../../../../etc/passwd or similar patterns.
• Log Entries: Apache/Nginx logs showing "GET /wp-content/themes/muji/load.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1" 200.
• Response Content: Contents of system files in HTTP responses.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69068_LFI_Detection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts targeting Muji theme CVE-2025-69068"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-69068"
    strings:
        $lfi_pattern1 = /file=\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/etc\/passwd/i
        $lfi_pattern2 = /file=\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/wp-config/i
        $lfi_pattern3 = /file=\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/\.\.\/proc\/self\/environ/i
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-69068 LFI Attempt on Muji Theme
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789abc
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts in HTTP requests to Muji theme files
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'GET'
        c-uri|contains: '/wp-content/themes/muji/'
        c-uri|contains: 'file='
        c-uri|contains|all:
            - '..'
            - '/etc/'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of file parameters (unlikely)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-69068 LFI Attempt on Muji Theme"; flow:to_server,established; content:"GET"; http_method; content:"/wp-content/themes/muji/"; http_uri; content:"file="; http_uri; content:"../"; http_uri; content:"/etc/"; http_uri; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Remove or disable the Muji theme from your WordPress installation. Switch to a different, actively maintained theme.
2. Virtual Patching: Use a WAF (e.g., Cloudflare, ModSecurity) to block requests containing file=../ or similar patterns.
3. Code Fix: If you must keep the theme, manually edit the vulnerable PHP file to sanitize the file parameter using a whitelist or realpath() validation.
4. Monitoring: Enable detailed logging for web server and WordPress to detect exploitation attempts.
5. Update: Monitor the AncoraThemes website for an official patch. If none is released, consider the theme abandoned and replace it permanently.

Valters IT
DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence