CVE-2025-22707: Moody tm-moody LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2025-22707 Overview

CVE-2025-22707 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the ThemeMove Moody WordPress theme (tm-moody). This vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters used in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive server files, potential remote code execution through log poisoning or other chained attacks, and complete compromise of the WordPress installation.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive configuration files, access database credentials, and potentially achieve remote code execution on affected WordPress installations.

Affected Products

• ThemeMove Moody (tm-moody) WordPress Theme versions through 2.7.3
• WordPress installations using vulnerable Moody theme versions
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress/Moody configurations

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-08 - CVE-2025-22707 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22707

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The ThemeMove Moody WordPress theme fails to properly validate and sanitize user-controlled input before passing it to PHP include or require functions. This allows an attacker to manipulate the file path parameter to traverse directories and include arbitrary files from the local filesystem.

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in WordPress themes are particularly dangerous because they can expose the wp-config.php file containing database credentials, allow reading of /etc/passwd and other sensitive system files, and potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve remote code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation within the Moody theme's PHP code. When the theme processes certain requests, it accepts user-supplied input that influences which files are included or required by PHP. Without proper sanitization, path traversal sequences such as ../ can be injected to escape the intended directory and access files elsewhere on the server.

The theme does not implement adequate filtering or allowlisting of permitted file paths, nor does it validate that the requested resource exists within an expected directory boundary.

Attack Vector

This vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the WordPress site containing specially crafted parameters designed to traverse the directory structure. The attack requires no user interaction and can be automated at scale.

Typical exploitation involves sending requests with path traversal sequences to access sensitive files. For example, an attacker might attempt to include wp-config.php to obtain database credentials, or read system files like /etc/passwd to enumerate users on the server.

The vulnerability could potentially be escalated to remote code execution through techniques such as:

• Log file poisoning (injecting PHP code into access logs, then including the log file)
• Session file inclusion
• Including uploaded files with embedded PHP code

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22707

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal patterns (e.g., ../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/) targeting theme files
• Access log entries showing attempts to include sensitive files like wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or log files
• Unexpected file access patterns in web server logs related to the Moody theme directory
• Error logs showing PHP include/require failures for paths outside the theme directory

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal attempts in request parameters
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing directory traversal sequences targeting /wp-content/themes/tm-moody/
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress configuration files
• Use SIEM correlation rules to identify patterns of LFI probing activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerts for high-volume requests to theme-related endpoints from single IP addresses
• Monitor for successful access to sensitive configuration files through application-level logging
• Review PHP error logs for include/require failures that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement rate limiting on theme-related endpoints to slow down automated scanning

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22707

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Moody (tm-moody) theme to a patched version if available from ThemeMove
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily deactivating and removing the Moody theme
• Implement WAF rules to block path traversal patterns in requests to your WordPress installation
• Review server access logs for signs of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

According to the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry, this vulnerability affects Moody theme versions through 2.7.3. Site administrators should check with ThemeMove for security updates and apply any available patches immediately. If running an affected version, prioritize updating or implementing compensating controls.

Workarounds

• Deploy a web application firewall with rules to block LFI attack patterns including path traversal sequences
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Implement server-level access controls to prevent reading sensitive system files
• Consider using a different WordPress theme until a security patch is released
• Enable PHP's disable_functions directive to restrict dangerous functions if not already configured

# Apache .htaccess configuration to block common LFI patterns
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (etc/passwd|wp-config\.php) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>

# PHP open_basedir restriction in php.ini or .user.ini
# open_basedir = /var/www/html/wordpress/