CVE-2025-31097: Material Dashboard LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2025-31097 Overview

CVE-2025-31097 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Material Dashboard WordPress plugin developed by Hossein. 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 through manipulated file path parameters, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or enabling further exploitation chains.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can potentially access sensitive files on the WordPress server including configuration files containing database credentials, leading to complete site compromise.

Affected Products

• Material Dashboard WordPress Plugin version 1.4.5 and earlier
• WordPress installations using the vulnerable Material Dashboard plugin
• All PHP-based deployments running the affected plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-01 - CVE-2025-31097 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31097

Vulnerability Analysis

This Local File Inclusion vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input that is used in PHP include or require statements within the Material Dashboard plugin. When a web application dynamically constructs file paths for PHP includes based on user input without proper validation, attackers can manipulate these parameters to include unintended files from the local file system.

In the context of WordPress plugins, LFI vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged to read sensitive files such as wp-config.php (which contains database credentials and authentication keys), log files that may contain sensitive data, or other PHP files that could be chained with additional techniques for code execution.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network, though it requires some complexity to successfully exploit, as indicated by the high attack complexity rating. No authentication or user interaction is required for exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-31097 is improper input validation in the Material Dashboard plugin's PHP code. The vulnerability occurs when the application uses user-controlled input directly in file inclusion functions (include, include_once, require, or require_once) without adequate sanitization. The plugin fails to implement proper allowlisting of permitted files, path normalization, or validation to prevent directory traversal sequences.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, allowing remote exploitation without authentication. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (such as ../) or absolute file paths to manipulate which files get included by the PHP application.

Successful exploitation could allow attackers to:

• Read sensitive configuration files containing database credentials
• Access system files like /etc/passwd on Linux servers
• Include log files that may contain injected malicious code
• Chain with other vulnerabilities for remote code execution

The vulnerability manifests in the file inclusion mechanism where user input is not properly sanitized before being passed to PHP include functions. Attackers typically use directory traversal sequences to navigate outside the intended directory structure. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31097

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or ....// targeting Material Dashboard plugin endpoints
• Web server access logs showing requests attempting to access files like wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other sensitive paths
• Error logs indicating failed file inclusion attempts or PHP warnings related to include/require operations
• Unexpected file access patterns in WordPress plugin directories

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP requests
• Monitor WordPress plugin directories for suspicious file access using file integrity monitoring solutions
• Enable verbose PHP error logging and monitor for include-related warnings that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for LFI attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for requests containing directory traversal sequences targeting the Material Dashboard plugin
• Establish baseline file access patterns and alert on anomalies in WordPress installation directories
• Monitor outbound network connections from the web server that may indicate successful data exfiltration
• Review web server access logs regularly for patterns consistent with LFI probing or exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31097

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Material Dashboard plugin to a patched version if available, or remove the plugin entirely if no patch exists
• Implement web application firewall rules to block path traversal attempts targeting WordPress plugins
• Review web server logs for any signs of prior exploitation attempts
• Audit WordPress installation for any unauthorized file access or modifications

Patch Information

Organizations using the Material Dashboard WordPress plugin version 1.4.5 or earlier should check for available updates from the plugin developer. If no patched version is available, consider removing or disabling the plugin until a security fix is released. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for the latest patch status and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Disable or remove the Material Dashboard plugin until a patched version becomes available
• Implement strict input validation at the web server level using .htaccess or nginx configuration rules
• Deploy a web application firewall with LFI/path traversal detection capabilities
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file inclusion to specific directories

# Example .htaccess rules to block path traversal attempts
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
# Block path traversal attempts
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
# Block common LFI patterns
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (\.\./) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>