CVE-2025-64359: Consulting Theme File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2025-64359 Overview

CVE-2025-64359 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the StylemixThemes Consulting WordPress theme. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters used in PHP include/require statements, classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). This weakness allows unauthenticated attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or enabling further exploitation through log poisoning or other chained attacks.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive files from WordPress installations, potentially exposing database credentials, configuration secrets, and other confidential data stored on the server.

Affected Products

• StylemixThemes Consulting WordPress Theme versions prior to 6.7.5
• WordPress installations using vulnerable Consulting theme versions
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress configurations

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-10-31 - CVE-2025-64359 published to NVD
• 2026-01-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-64359

Vulnerability Analysis

This Local File Inclusion vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation in the StylemixThemes Consulting WordPress theme. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before using it in PHP include or require statements, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths and include arbitrary files from the local filesystem.

The vulnerability requires no authentication to exploit, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the WordPress site can attempt exploitation. The primary impact is on confidentiality, as successful exploitation enables attackers to read sensitive files such as wp-config.php, which typically contains database credentials, authentication keys, and other security-sensitive configuration data.

While this vulnerability is classified as a "Remote File Inclusion" vulnerability type in some databases, the actual exploitable behavior is Local File Inclusion, which limits the attack to files already present on the server rather than allowing inclusion of remote malicious scripts.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in improper validation and sanitization of user-controlled input that gets passed to PHP's file inclusion functions (include, require, include_once, or require_once). The Consulting theme fails to implement proper allowlisting of permitted file paths, does not adequately filter directory traversal sequences (such as ../), and does not validate that the requested file exists within an expected directory structure before inclusion.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker crafts malicious requests containing directory traversal sequences to navigate outside the intended file inclusion directory. By manipulating the vulnerable parameter, attackers can traverse the filesystem and include sensitive files.

Common exploitation targets include:

• /wp-config.php - Contains database credentials and WordPress security keys
• /etc/passwd - System user information on Linux servers
• /var/log/apache2/access.log - Apache access logs (potential for log poisoning attacks)
• .htaccess files - Server configuration details

The vulnerability mechanism involves passing manipulated file path parameters through HTTP requests. For detailed technical analysis and proof of concept information, refer to the Patchstack security advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-64359

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests containing directory traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ..%5c) targeting theme endpoints
• Access attempts to common sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or log files through unusual request parameters
• Anomalous file read operations originating from the WordPress theme directory
• Server logs showing repeated requests with path manipulation patterns to Consulting theme components

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block directory traversal patterns in request parameters
• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing encoded or raw path traversal sequences targeting theme files
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on critical configuration files to detect unauthorized read access patterns
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on LFI attack signatures targeting WordPress installations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for all requests to WordPress theme files and endpoints
• Set up real-time alerting for requests containing path traversal indicators (../, %2e%2e, ..%252f)
• Monitor for unusual file access patterns from the web server process, particularly reads of files outside the WordPress installation directory
• Review server logs regularly for evidence of file disclosure attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-64359

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the StylemixThemes Consulting theme to version 6.7.5 or later immediately
• Audit WordPress installations to identify all instances using vulnerable theme versions
• Review server access logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts
• Consider temporarily disabling the Consulting theme if an immediate update is not possible

Patch Information

StylemixThemes has addressed this vulnerability in Consulting theme version 6.7.5. Site administrators should update through the WordPress dashboard or by downloading the latest version from the theme vendor. The patch implements proper input validation and sanitization for file inclusion parameters.

For additional details on the vulnerability and patch status, see the Patchstack vulnerability database entry.

Workarounds

• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to block directory traversal patterns in requests
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Implement server-level access controls to prevent the web server from reading sensitive system files
• Consider using file permission hardening to restrict read access on sensitive configuration files

# Example: Restrict PHP open_basedir in .htaccess or php.ini
# Add to wp-config.php or server configuration
# php_admin_value open_basedir /var/www/html/wordpress/:/tmp/

# Example: Block directory traversal patterns in Apache
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.\\) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\.%2f|\.\.%5c) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]