CVE-2025-53281: WPB Category Slider LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2025-53281 Overview

CVE-2025-53281 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the WPBean WPB Category Slider for WooCommerce WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper control of filenames used in PHP include or require statements [CWE-98]. Affected versions include all releases up to and including 1.71. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can include arbitrary local files on the server, leading to source code disclosure, sensitive configuration exposure, and potential code execution if attacker-controlled files exist on the host.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can include arbitrary local PHP files, exposing credentials in wp-config.php, leaking secrets, and potentially executing arbitrary code on the WordPress server.

Affected Products

WPBean WPB Category Slider for WooCommerce plugin (wpb-woocommerce-category-slider)
All versions from initial release through 1.71
WordPress sites running WooCommerce with this plugin installed

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-27 - CVE-2025-53281 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-53281

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program [CWE-98]. The plugin accepts attacker-influenced input and passes it to a PHP include or require call without proper validation or path restriction. This allows an authenticated attacker to traverse the filesystem and load arbitrary .php files accessible to the web server process.

The attack requires network access and low privileges, but no user interaction. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An attacker can read sensitive files such as wp-config.php, session files, or log files. If the attacker can plant a PHP file on the server through another vector such as an uploads directory, LFI escalates to remote code execution.

The EPSS probability is 0.423% with a percentile of 62.4, indicating moderate likelihood of exploitation activity relative to other published CVEs.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of allow-listing and sanitization on a parameter that controls a file path passed to a PHP include directive. The plugin trusts the supplied filename and does not validate that it points to an expected template or asset within the plugin directory.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over the network against an authenticated WordPress endpoint exposed by the plugin. An attacker submits a crafted parameter referencing a local file path, often using directory traversal sequences such as ../../. The PHP interpreter resolves the path and executes or includes the file contents within the request context. Because no verified public proof-of-concept is available, defenders should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53281

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to WordPress admin-ajax or plugin endpoints containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or encoded variants like %2e%2e%2f
Web server access logs showing parameter values referencing sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or php://filter
Unexpected PHP errors in logs referencing include() or require() with attacker-controlled paths
Outbound connections or file reads from the WordPress PHP process to paths outside the plugin directory

Detection Strategies

Inspect web access logs for requests targeting wpb-woocommerce-category-slider plugin endpoints with suspicious file path parameters
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to flag traversal patterns and PHP wrapper schemes like php://, phar://, and data://
Monitor PHP error logs for failed include/require operations originating from the plugin
Correlate authenticated user sessions with anomalous file access patterns on the WordPress host

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable file integrity monitoring on wp-config.php and other sensitive configuration files
Alert on PHP processes reading files outside the WordPress installation directory
Track HTTP 200 responses to plugin endpoints that return abnormally large or non-HTML payloads
Review WordPress user activity logs for low-privilege accounts accessing plugin functionality unexpectedly

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53281

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running the WPB Category Slider for WooCommerce plugin at version 1.71 or earlier
Disable or uninstall the plugin until a patched version is verified and deployed
Rotate WordPress database credentials, secret keys, and any API tokens stored in wp-config.php if exploitation is suspected
Audit wp-content/uploads and other writable directories for unexpected PHP files

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no fixed version was listed in the NVD entry. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the WordPress plugin repository for any subsequent release that addresses CVE-2025-53281. Upgrade to the patched release as soon as it becomes available.

Workarounds

Remove or deactivate the wpb-woocommerce-category-slider plugin until a fix is published
Restrict access to WordPress admin and authenticated endpoints using IP allow-lists or VPN gating
Deploy WAF rules that block directory traversal sequences and PHP stream wrappers in request parameters
Set open_basedir in PHP configuration to constrain file access to the WordPress document root

bash

# PHP open_basedir hardening example for php.ini or vhost config
php_admin_value open_basedir "/var/www/html/wordpress:/tmp"
php_admin_flag allow_url_include off
php_admin_flag allow_url_fopen off