CVE-2025-49364: Ludos Paradise LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2025-49364 Overview

CVE-2025-49364 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Ludos Paradise WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. 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 successfully exploited, this flaw can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, source code disclosure, and potentially remote code execution through log poisoning or other advanced techniques.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can leverage this Local File Inclusion vulnerability to read sensitive files from the WordPress installation, potentially exposing database credentials, API keys, and other confidential information that could lead to complete site compromise.

Affected Products

• AncoraThemes Ludos Paradise WordPress Theme versions through 2.1.3
• WordPress installations using the vulnerable Ludos Paradise theme
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress sites with the Ludos Paradise theme installed

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-12-18 - CVE-2025-49364 published to NVD
• 2026-04-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49364

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program), commonly referred to as PHP Remote File Inclusion, though in this case it manifests as a Local File Inclusion issue. The Ludos Paradise theme fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before using it in PHP include or require statements.

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network, though successful exploitation requires some complexity in crafting the malicious request. Once exploited, the vulnerability can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. Attackers can read arbitrary files from the server, potentially including wp-config.php which contains database credentials, and may chain this with other techniques to achieve code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation within the Ludos Paradise theme's PHP code. When the theme processes certain requests, user-controllable input is passed directly to PHP's file inclusion functions (include, require, include_once, or require_once) without adequate sanitization or path restriction. This allows attackers to manipulate the file path and access files outside the intended directory scope.

Common vulnerable patterns include:

• Direct concatenation of user input with file paths
• Missing or incomplete path traversal sequence filtering (e.g., ../)
• Lack of whitelist validation for allowed file paths
• Insufficient checking of file extensions

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable via network-based requests to the WordPress installation. An attacker does not require authentication to exploit this flaw, though the attack complexity is considered high due to the specific conditions needed for successful exploitation.

Typical LFI exploitation techniques that may apply include:

• Path traversal sequences to access files outside the web root
• PHP wrapper abuse (e.g., php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=) to read PHP source code
• Log file poisoning to inject malicious PHP code for execution
• Session file inclusion for code execution in certain configurations

The vulnerability mechanism involves an attacker sending a crafted HTTP request containing path traversal sequences or absolute file paths to a vulnerable endpoint in the Ludos Paradise theme. The application then includes the specified file, returning its contents to the attacker or executing any PHP code contained within.

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, see the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49364

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to WordPress containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2f, ....//) targeting theme endpoints
• Unusual access patterns to the Ludos Paradise theme files with encoded or malformed parameters
• Web server error logs showing failed or successful attempts to access files outside the web root
• Presence of unexpected PHP code in server log files (indication of log poisoning attempts)

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block LFI attack patterns including path traversal sequences
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress configuration files such as wp-config.php
• Configure IDS/IPS signatures to alert on requests containing PHP wrapper protocols like php://filter
• Monitor HTTP access logs for requests containing suspicious file path parameters targeting the Ludos Paradise theme

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for WordPress and web server access patterns to capture exploitation attempts
• Set up alerts for access attempts to sensitive files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
• Monitor for unusual outbound data transfers that may indicate successful data exfiltration
• Implement real-time log analysis to detect LFI attack signatures in web traffic

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49364

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Ludos Paradise theme to a patched version when available from AncoraThemes
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling or removing the Ludos Paradise theme
• Deploy Web Application Firewall rules to block LFI attack patterns as an interim protective measure
• Review WordPress access logs for any evidence of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for updates regarding official patches from AncoraThemes. The Ludos Paradise theme version 2.1.3 and earlier are confirmed vulnerable. Update to a version higher than 2.1.3 once released by the vendor.

Workarounds

• Implement strict input validation on all user-controllable parameters at the web server or WAF level
• Use open_basedir PHP configuration to restrict file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Deploy ModSecurity or similar WAF with OWASP Core Rule Set to block common LFI attack patterns
• Consider implementing PHP's allow_url_include=Off directive to prevent remote file inclusion variants

# Apache ModSecurity rule to block common LFI patterns
# Add to your ModSecurity configuration
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS|ARGS_NAMES "@contains ../" \
    "id:100001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Path Traversal Attack Detected'"

# PHP configuration hardening (php.ini)
# Restrict file operations to WordPress directory
open_basedir = /var/www/html/wordpress/
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off