CVE-2025-69076

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69076 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the Modern Housewife WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0.12. The flaw stems from improper control of filenames used in PHP include/require statements, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to include arbitrary local files from the server. Successful exploitation can lead to sensitive information disclosure, remote code execution (if combined with file upload), and full server compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a WordPress ecosystem issue, residing entirely within the theme's codebase.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects a WordPress theme distributed via the official WordPress theme repository and potentially through third-party marketplaces. Users who have installed the theme directly from the WordPress admin panel or via manual upload are at risk. The theme is not an NPM, PyPI, Go, or Ruby package, but it is part of the WordPress plugin/theme ecosystem. The lack of a patch from the vendor increases the risk for all users of this 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: High (I:H)
• Availability Impact: High (A:H)

The high CVSS score reflects the ease of exploitation and the severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An unauthenticated attacker can trigger the vulnerability without any user interaction.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability exists in the theme's PHP code where user-supplied input is used to construct a file path for inclusion via functions like include(), require(), include_once(), or require_once(). The theme likely uses a parameter (e.g., page, template, or file) to load specific template files. Without proper sanitization or validation, an attacker can manipulate this parameter to traverse directories and include arbitrary files.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

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

An attacker can exploit this by providing a path like ../../../../etc/passwd to read sensitive files, or ../../../../wp-config.php to retrieve database credentials. If the server allows file uploads (e.g., via a media upload feature), the attacker can upload a malicious PHP file and then include it to achieve remote code execution.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (Modern Housewife <= 1.0.12):

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

Patched Code (Hypothetical fix):

// patched.php
$allowed_templates = array('header', 'footer', 'sidebar', 'content');
$template = $_GET['template'];
if (in_array($template, $allowed_templates)) {
    include("theme-parts/" . $template . ".php");
} else {
    // Handle error or load default
    include("theme-parts/default.php");
}

The patched version uses a whitelist of allowed template names, preventing directory traversal and arbitrary file inclusion.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Attacker)

Lab Setup:

1. Install WordPress with the Modern Housewife theme (version <= 1.0.12) on a local server (e.g., XAMPP, LAMP).
2. Ensure the server has file read permissions for sensitive files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable parameter (e.g., template, file, page).
2. Craft a payload to read /etc/passwd:

   http://target/wp-content/themes/modernhousewife/vulnerable.php?template=../../../../../../etc/passwd
   

3. If the server returns the file content, the vulnerability is confirmed.
4. For remote code execution, upload a malicious PHP file via WordPress media upload (if enabled) and include it:

   http://target/wp-content/themes/modernhousewife/vulnerable.php?template=../../../../uploads/2025/01/shell
   

Note: No public exploit code is available at this time.

Blue Team (Defender)

Detection Steps:

1. Monitor web server logs for suspicious GET requests containing directory traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %2e%2e%2f).
2. Look for requests to theme files with unexpected parameters.
3. Check for file inclusion attempts targeting sensitive files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or .env.
4. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block directory traversal attempts.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File Paths:
  • /etc/passwd
  • /etc/shadow
  • /wp-config.php
  • /.env
  • /proc/self/environ
• URL Patterns:
  • ?template=../../../../etc/passwd
  • ?file=../../../../wp-config.php
  • ?page=../../../../proc/self/environ
• Log Entries:
  • HTTP 200 responses to requests containing ../ in parameters.
  • Unusual file read requests to system files.
• Network Indicators:
  • Outbound connections from the web server to attacker-controlled IPs (if RCE achieved).

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69076_LFI_Detection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects attempts to exploit CVE-2025-69076 in Modern Housewife theme"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-01-01"
        reference = "CVE-2025-69076"
    strings:
        $s1 = "template=" nocase
        $s2 = "file=" nocase
        $s3 = "page=" nocase
        $s4 = "../" nocase
        $s5 = "..\\" nocase
        $s6 = "%2e%2e%2f" nocase
        $s7 = "wp-config.php" nocase
        $s8 = "/etc/passwd" nocase
    condition:
        any of ($s1, $s2, $s3) and any of ($s4, $s5, $s6) and any of ($s7, $s8)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-69076 LFI Exploitation Attempt
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects directory traversal attempts targeting Modern Housewife theme
author: Valters IT
date: 2025/01/01
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        c-uri|contains:
            - 'template='
            - 'file='
            - 'page='
        c-uri|contains:
            - '../'
            - '..\\'
            - '%2e%2e%2f'
        c-uri|contains:
            - '/etc/passwd'
            - 'wp-config.php'
            - '.env'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of similar patterns in other applications
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-69076 LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"GET"; http_method; content:"template="; http_uri; content:"../"; http_uri; content:"/etc/passwd"; http_uri; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Action: Disable the Modern Housewife theme until a patch is released. Switch to a different theme.
2. Vendor Patch: Monitor the AncoraThemes website for an official patch. Apply it immediately when available.
3. Manual Fix: If patching is not possible, modify the vulnerable PHP file to implement a whitelist of allowed template names (as shown in the patched code example).
4. WAF Rules: Deploy Web Application Firewall rules to block directory traversal patterns.
5. File Permissions: Restrict read access to sensitive system files (e.g., /etc/passwd, wp-config.php) from the web server user.
6. Disable File Uploads: If not needed, disable file uploads in WordPress to prevent RCE via LFI.
7. Monitor Logs: Continuously monitor web server logs for exploitation attempts.

Valters IT