CVE-2025-69144: Preservation Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-69144 Overview

CVE-2025-69144 is an unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the WordPress Preservation theme in versions 1.10 and earlier. The flaw is classified under [CWE-98] (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). An unauthenticated remote attacker can manipulate file path parameters to force the application to include arbitrary files from the underlying server. Successful exploitation can lead to disclosure of sensitive configuration data, source code, and credentials, and may enable remote code execution when combined with file upload primitives or log poisoning techniques.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can include arbitrary local files, exposing wp-config.php, credentials, and potentially achieving remote code execution on WordPress sites running the Preservation theme.

Affected Products

WordPress Preservation theme versions 1.10 and earlier
WordPress sites with the vulnerable theme installed and active
Hosting environments running PHP-based WordPress deployments using this theme

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-17 - CVE-2025-69144 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69144

Vulnerability Analysis

The Preservation theme contains a PHP File Inclusion weakness ([CWE-98]) where user-controlled input flows into a PHP include, require, include_once, or require_once statement without adequate sanitization. Attackers can supply crafted values that resolve to arbitrary files on the server file system.

Because the vulnerability requires no authentication, any anonymous web client can attempt exploitation against an exposed WordPress instance. The high attack complexity rating reflects conditions an attacker must satisfy, such as discovering a viable parameter, valid theme paths, or specific server configurations.

Successful inclusion of files such as wp-config.php discloses database credentials and authentication secrets. Inclusion of attacker-controlled content, for example via uploaded media or poisoned log files, can escalate the issue from disclosure to code execution within the PHP worker process.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of filename input passed to PHP file inclusion functions. The theme accepts a path-like parameter and concatenates it into an include or require call without enforcing an allowlist, validating file extensions, or restricting traversal sequences like ../.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network through standard HTTP(S) requests to the WordPress site. The attacker crafts a request that targets the vulnerable theme endpoint and supplies a file path parameter pointing to a sensitive local file or to an attacker-controlled file already present on the host. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69144

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Preservation theme endpoints containing ../ traversal sequences or absolute paths such as /etc/passwd, /proc/self/environ, or wp-config.php
Web server access logs showing query parameters with PHP wrappers like php://filter, php://input, or file://
Unexpected PHP errors referencing include() or require() failures with attacker-supplied paths
Outbound connections or process spawns originating from the PHP worker shortly after suspicious requests

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server and WAF logs for path traversal patterns in requests targeting /wp-content/themes/preservation/ resources
Hunt for anomalous file reads by the PHP-FPM or Apache user against sensitive files outside the web root
Correlate WordPress audit logs with unauthenticated requests that result in non-standard response sizes or error codes

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on the reverse proxy or WAF for all theme-related requests until patched
Alert on access attempts to wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, and PHP wrapper schemes in URL parameters
Monitor for newly created PHP files in upload directories that could serve as inclusion targets

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69144

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress installations using the Preservation theme at version 1.10 or earlier and deactivate the theme until a patched release is verified
Rotate WordPress database credentials, salts, and any API keys stored in wp-config.php if exploitation cannot be ruled out
Restrict access to the WordPress site behind a WAF rule that blocks traversal sequences and PHP wrapper schemes in query strings

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack advisory for the latest fixed version information. Apply the vendor-supplied update for the Preservation theme as soon as it is available and validated in a staging environment.

Workarounds

Switch to an alternative WordPress theme until a fixed Preservation version is released
Deploy WAF signatures that block ../, null bytes, and php:// schemes in HTTP parameters bound for the theme
Configure PHP open_basedir and disable_functions to restrict file system access and limit the impact of arbitrary inclusion
Set file system permissions so the web server user cannot read sensitive configuration files outside the WordPress root

bash

# Example PHP hardening in php.ini to limit LFI impact
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off