CVE-2025-53198 Overview
CVE-2025-53198 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Houzez WordPress theme developed by favethemes. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server. This weakness (CWE-98) enables unauthorized access to sensitive files and potentially escalate to remote code execution under certain conditions.
Critical Impact
Attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive configuration files, access credentials, and potentially achieve code execution by including files with malicious content or leveraging log poisoning techniques.
Affected Products
- Houzez WordPress Theme version 4.0.4 and earlier
- All Houzez theme installations from initial release through version 4.0.4
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-20 - CVE-2025-53198 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-53198
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program (CWE-98). The Houzez theme fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before using it in PHP include or require statements. This allows an attacker to manipulate file path parameters to include arbitrary local files from the server's filesystem.
The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that remote unauthenticated attackers can potentially exploit it, though the attack complexity is elevated due to conditions that must be met for successful exploitation. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress installation.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-controlled parameters that are subsequently passed to PHP's include(), require(), include_once(), or require_once() functions. The Houzez theme does not adequately restrict or validate the file paths that can be included, allowing path traversal sequences and arbitrary file references.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (such as ../) or direct file path references in vulnerable parameters. By manipulating these parameters, attackers can traverse the directory structure and include sensitive files such as /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other configuration files containing database credentials and authentication secrets.
The attack can be further escalated by combining LFI with other techniques such as log poisoning (injecting PHP code into log files and then including them), or exploiting PHP wrappers to access additional resources.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53198
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ....//) targeting theme files
- Access logs showing attempts to include system files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
- Unexpected file access patterns in PHP logs related to Houzez theme endpoints
- Evidence of log poisoning attempts with PHP code in User-Agent or Referer headers
Detection Strategies
- Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for LFI attack signatures and path traversal attempts
- Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress configuration files
- Review Apache/Nginx access logs for requests with encoded traversal sequences
- Deploy runtime application self-protection (RASP) to detect inclusion of unexpected files
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed PHP logging to capture include/require operations
- Configure alerting for access attempts to sensitive system files from web processes
- Monitor for unusual file read operations originating from the WordPress installation directory
- Implement SentinelOne Singularity XDR to detect and respond to exploitation attempts in real-time
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53198
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Houzez theme to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability
- Implement web application firewall rules to block path traversal attempts
- Review server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts
- Restrict file system permissions on sensitive files like wp-config.php
Patch Information
Organizations using the Houzez WordPress theme should upgrade to a version newer than 4.0.4 as soon as a patched version becomes available from favethemes. Check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest update information and patching guidance.
Workarounds
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to block LFI attack patterns
- Implement PHP open_basedir restrictions to limit file access scope
- Disable unnecessary PHP wrappers that could be abused for exploitation
- Consider temporarily disabling vulnerable theme functionality until patched
# PHP configuration hardening example
# Add to php.ini or .htaccess to restrict file access scope
php_value open_basedir /var/www/html:/tmp
# Disable potentially dangerous PHP wrappers
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
