CVE-2025-24650: Themefic Tourfic RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24650 Overview

CVE-2025-24650 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability affecting the Themefic Tourfic WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows attackers to upload files with dangerous types, including web shells, to the web server. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of uploaded file types, enabling malicious actors to bypass security controls and execute arbitrary code on affected WordPress installations.

Critical Impact

Attackers can upload web shells to compromised WordPress sites, leading to complete server takeover, data theft, and use of the server for further malicious activities.

Affected Products

• Themefic Tourfic plugin versions up to and including 2.15.3
• WordPress installations running vulnerable Tourfic plugin versions
• Sites using Tourfic for travel and tour booking functionality

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-24 - CVE CVE-2025-24650 published to NVD
• 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24650

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type). The Tourfic plugin fails to properly validate and restrict file types during the upload process. This oversight allows attackers to upload executable files, such as PHP web shells, that can then be accessed directly on the server to execute arbitrary commands.

WordPress plugins that handle file uploads must implement strict file type validation, including checking MIME types, file extensions, and file content. The Tourfic plugin's implementation lacks these critical security controls, creating a direct path for attackers to compromise the underlying web server.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation within the file upload functionality of the Tourfic plugin. The plugin does not properly sanitize or restrict the types of files that can be uploaded through its interface. This allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions and upload malicious files with executable extensions such as .php, .phtml, or other server-side script formats.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious file, typically a PHP web shell, and uploading it through the vulnerable file upload functionality in the Tourfic plugin. Once the file is successfully uploaded to the server, the attacker can access it directly via a web browser to execute arbitrary commands on the server with the privileges of the web server process.

The attack sequence typically involves:

1. Identifying a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of Tourfic
2. Locating the file upload functionality within the plugin
3. Uploading a malicious PHP file disguised or crafted to bypass any minimal checks
4. Accessing the uploaded file via its URL to execute commands
5. Establishing persistent access or exfiltrating sensitive data

For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24650

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected PHP files in WordPress upload directories, particularly in /wp-content/uploads/ or plugin-specific directories
• Web server access logs showing requests to unusual PHP files with query parameters indicative of command execution
• Files with suspicious names or random character strings in upload directories
• Outbound network connections from the web server to unknown IP addresses
• Modified file timestamps on legitimate WordPress core or plugin files

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system changes in WordPress upload directories for new PHP or executable files
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block web shell upload attempts
• Review web server access logs for POST requests to file upload endpoints followed by GET requests to new PHP files
• Deploy file integrity monitoring (FIM) solutions to detect unauthorized file additions
• Use WordPress security plugins that scan for known web shell signatures

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable real-time file system monitoring on WordPress installations
• Configure alerting for new executable files created in upload directories
• Monitor for anomalous process spawning from web server processes (e.g., www-data or apache spawning shell commands)
• Review plugin activity logs for unusual file upload patterns
• Implement network monitoring to detect command-and-control communications from compromised servers

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24650

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Themefic Tourfic plugin to a version newer than 2.15.3 that addresses this vulnerability
• Audit the /wp-content/uploads/ directory and plugin directories for any suspicious PHP files
• Review web server access logs for signs of exploitation
• Implement file upload restrictions at the web server level (Apache/Nginx configuration)
• Consider temporarily disabling file upload functionality in the plugin until patched

Patch Information

Users should update the Tourfic plugin to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. Check the WordPress plugin repository or Themefic's official channels for security updates. For detailed patch information, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Implement server-level restrictions to prevent PHP execution in upload directories
• Use a Web Application Firewall to block malicious file upload attempts
• Restrict upload functionality to authenticated administrators only
• Implement file type validation at the web server level as an additional layer of defense
• Consider using a WordPress security plugin with file upload scanning capabilities

# Apache configuration to prevent PHP execution in uploads directory
# Add to .htaccess in /wp-content/uploads/
<FilesMatch "\.(?:php|phtml|php3|php4|php5|phps)$">
    Require all denied
</FilesMatch>

# Nginx configuration alternative
# Add to server block
location ~* /wp-content/uploads/.*\.php$ {
    deny all;
}