CVE-2025-69107: Rosaleen Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-69107 Overview

CVE-2025-69107 is an unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Rosaleen WordPress theme in versions up to and including 2.8. The flaw is classified under [CWE-98] (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). Remote attackers can exploit the issue without authentication to include arbitrary local files on the server through the vulnerable theme code. Successful exploitation can lead to disclosure of sensitive configuration files, source code, and credentials, and may escalate to remote code execution when combined with file upload primitives or log poisoning techniques.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can include arbitrary server-side files, exposing configuration secrets such as wp-config.php and potentially achieving remote code execution.

Affected Products

Rosaleen WordPress theme versions 2.8 and earlier
WordPress installations using the vulnerable Rosaleen theme
Any site exposing theme PHP entry points to unauthenticated visitors

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-17 - CVE-2025-69107 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69107

Vulnerability Analysis

The Rosaleen theme accepts user-controlled input that is passed directly into a PHP include or require statement. The theme does not validate or canonicalize the supplied path, so attackers can reference arbitrary local files on the host. The flaw is reachable over the network without prior authentication, which removes the most common barrier to exploitation. Because PHP include evaluates included files as code, any file containing PHP that the attacker can stage or influence becomes a code execution primitive.

The vulnerability requires specific request conditions to succeed, reflected in the elevated attack complexity. Once those conditions are met, the impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper control of filename arguments in a PHP include directive [CWE-98]. The theme constructs an include path from request parameters without enforcing an allow-list, stripping path traversal sequences, or restricting the include to a known directory. This pattern allows traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the theme directory and reach arbitrary filesystem locations.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker issues an HTTP request to a vulnerable Rosaleen theme endpoint with a crafted parameter pointing at a target file. Reading files like wp-config.php discloses database credentials and WordPress secret keys. Pairing the LFI with PHP log files, session files, or uploaded media containing PHP payloads can convert file inclusion into remote code execution. See the Patchstack advisory for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69107

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Rosaleen theme PHP files containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or encoded null bytes
Web server access logs showing parameters referencing sensitive files like wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or PHP log paths
Unexpected outbound traffic or new PHP files created within the wp-content/uploads/ directory following suspicious theme requests

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server and WordPress logs for requests targeting Rosaleen theme files with suspicious file path parameters
Deploy web application firewall rules that block traversal patterns and references to known sensitive filenames
Correlate LFI request patterns with subsequent PHP execution or outbound connections from the web host

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose access logging on the WordPress reverse proxy or web server and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform
Alert on responses returning the contents of PHP configuration files or unexpected MIME types from theme endpoints
Monitor filesystem integrity for changes within wp-content/themes/rosaleen/ and the uploads directory

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69107

Immediate Actions Required

Disable or remove the Rosaleen theme until a patched version is installed
Restrict access to the WordPress site at the network edge if the theme cannot be removed immediately
Rotate WordPress secret keys, database credentials, and any API tokens that may have been exposed via the include primitive
Review web server logs for prior exploitation attempts and audit the uploads directory for attacker-staged PHP files

Patch Information

No fixed version is identified in the available advisory data. Monitor the Patchstack advisory for an upstream fix and apply it as soon as it is published. Until then, treat the theme as vulnerable in all versions up to and including 2.8.

Workarounds

Switch to a maintained WordPress theme that does not exhibit the LFI behavior
Deploy WAF rules that block path traversal sequences and references to sensitive system files in query parameters and POST bodies
Harden PHP configuration with open_basedir restrictions and disable inclusion of remote streams via allow_url_include=Off
Set restrictive filesystem permissions on wp-config.php and confirm the web user cannot read files outside the WordPress document root

bash

# Example php.ini hardening
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"