CVE-2025-25109: WP Vehicle Manager LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2025-25109 Overview

CVE-2025-25109 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the JoomSky WP Vehicle Manager WordPress plugin (js-vehicle-manager). The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename for include/require statements in PHP, classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). This flaw allows attackers to include arbitrary local files on the server, potentially leading to sensitive information disclosure, configuration file exposure, or code execution if combined with other attack techniques.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive files from the WordPress server, potentially exposing database credentials, configuration files, and other critical system information.

Affected Products

• JoomSky WP Vehicle Manager (js-vehicle-manager) version 3.1 and earlier
• WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the plugin
• All environments where the WP Vehicle Manager plugin is active

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-03 - CVE-2025-25109 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-25109

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation in the WP Vehicle Manager plugin's PHP include mechanism. The plugin fails to properly sanitize user-controlled input before using it in PHP include or require statements. This allows an attacker to manipulate file paths and include arbitrary local files from the server's filesystem.

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins are particularly dangerous because they can expose sensitive configuration files such as wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and authentication keys. Additionally, if an attacker can upload a file containing PHP code (even with a non-PHP extension), they may be able to achieve remote code execution by including that uploaded file.

The vulnerability affects all versions of WP Vehicle Manager through version 3.1, indicating that no patched version was available at the time of disclosure.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-25109 lies in the improper handling of user-supplied input within the plugin's file inclusion logic. The plugin accepts filename parameters without adequate validation or sanitization, allowing path traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory and access files elsewhere on the filesystem. This violates the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices that require strict whitelisting of allowed file paths.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability involves crafting malicious requests to the WordPress installation with manipulated file path parameters. An attacker can send specially crafted HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences to include sensitive local files.

Typical attack scenarios include:

• Configuration File Disclosure: Including wp-config.php to obtain database credentials and WordPress security keys
• System File Access: Reading /etc/passwd on Linux servers to enumerate system users
• Log File Poisoning: If combined with log poisoning techniques, attackers may inject PHP code into log files and then include those logs to achieve code execution
• Plugin/Theme Source Code Exposure: Reading other plugin or theme files to discover additional vulnerabilities

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by any unauthenticated attacker who can send HTTP requests to the vulnerable WordPress installation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-25109

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/) targeting WP Vehicle Manager endpoints
• Web server access logs showing attempts to include system files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
• Error logs indicating failed file inclusion attempts or unexpected file access patterns
• Suspicious activity originating from the js-vehicle-manager plugin directory

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in request parameters
• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing ../ sequences or encoded variants targeting plugin endpoints
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress configuration files
• Use security plugins that detect suspicious file access attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the WordPress installation and review logs regularly for anomalous requests
• Configure alerts for access attempts to sensitive files like wp-config.php from web-accessible paths
• Monitor for sudden increases in 404 or 500 errors that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement real-time security monitoring solutions that can detect LFI attack patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-25109

Immediate Actions Required

• Deactivate and remove the WP Vehicle Manager plugin (js-vehicle-manager) if not essential to your site's functionality
• Review web server access logs for signs of exploitation attempts
• Verify the integrity of wp-config.php and other sensitive configuration files
• Implement WAF rules to block path traversal attack patterns

Patch Information

At the time of this vulnerability disclosure, WP Vehicle Manager version 3.1 and all prior versions are affected. Site administrators should check the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for the latest information on available patches. If no patch is available, consider using alternative vehicle management plugins that are actively maintained and security-audited.

Workarounds

• Disable the WP Vehicle Manager plugin until a security patch is released by the vendor
• Implement server-level restrictions using .htaccess or nginx configuration to block requests containing path traversal patterns
• Use a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically designed to detect and block LFI attacks
• Restrict file permissions on sensitive configuration files to prevent unauthorized read access

# Example .htaccess rules to block common LFI patterns
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>