CVE-2025-69083: Frappé Theme Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-69083 Overview

CVE-2025-69083 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Elated-Themes Frappé WordPress theme. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename for include/require statements in PHP, allowing attackers to include arbitrary local files on the target system. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, including configuration files, credentials, and potentially remote code execution if combined with other attack vectors.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to include arbitrary local files on WordPress installations running the vulnerable Frappé theme, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, credentials, and enabling further exploitation paths.

Affected Products

• Elated-Themes Frappé WordPress Theme versions up to and including 1.8
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable Frappé theme
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress sites with PHP configurations allowing file inclusion

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-06 - CVE-2025-69083 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69083

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The Frappé WordPress theme fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that is subsequently used in PHP's include(), require(), include_once(), or require_once() functions. This allows attackers to manipulate file paths and include arbitrary local files from the server's filesystem.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network, though it requires favorable conditions to successfully exploit, making it a high-complexity attack. Despite this complexity barrier, successful exploitation requires no authentication or user interaction, making it a significant threat to affected installations. The potential impact is severe, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in insufficient input validation within the Frappé theme's PHP codebase. User-controllable parameters are passed directly to file inclusion functions without proper sanitization, path restriction, or allowlist validation. The theme fails to implement security controls such as:

• Basename extraction to prevent directory traversal
• Allowlist validation of permitted file paths
• Proper input sanitization to strip path manipulation characters
• Restriction of file extensions that can be included

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable via network-based requests. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (such as ../) or absolute paths to reference sensitive files on the server. Common exploitation targets include:

• /etc/passwd for user enumeration on Linux systems
• wp-config.php for WordPress database credentials
• /var/log/ files for log injection attacks
• Uploaded files containing PHP code for achieving remote code execution

The attack mechanism involves sending specially crafted parameters through HTTP requests to the vulnerable theme components. When the theme processes these requests, it includes the attacker-specified file, potentially exposing its contents or executing PHP code within included files.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69083

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/) targeting theme files
• Access log entries showing requests for sensitive files like wp-config.php or /etc/passwd
• Web application firewall alerts for LFI/path traversal attack patterns
• Unexpected file access patterns in PHP error logs or system audit logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting LFI patterns and path traversal attempts
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress configuration files
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on requests containing directory traversal sequences
• Review web server access logs for suspicious patterns targeting the Frappé theme endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for PHP applications and monitor for file inclusion warnings or errors
• Set up real-time alerting for access to sensitive system files from web application contexts
• Monitor for unusual outbound data transfers that may indicate successful data exfiltration
• Implement behavioral analysis to detect anomalous request patterns to WordPress theme files

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69083

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Elated-Themes Frappé theme to the latest patched version as soon as one becomes available
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling or removing the vulnerable theme
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns targeting the affected theme
• Review server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for detailed patch information and remediation guidance. Contact Elated-Themes for an updated version of the Frappé theme that addresses this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Implement strict WAF rules to filter and block requests containing path traversal sequences
• Use PHP open_basedir configuration to restrict file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Deploy mod_security or similar modules with rules targeting LFI attack patterns
• Consider using a different WordPress theme until an official patch is released

If using Apache, you can add protective rules to your .htaccess file:

# Configuration example
# Block common LFI patterns in .htaccess
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (etc/passwd|etc/shadow|wp-config) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>