CVE-2025-69173: Tipsy Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-69173 Overview

CVE-2025-69173 is an unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Tipsy WordPress theme in versions 1.1 and earlier. The flaw allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files from the underlying server without authentication. The weakness is classified as [CWE-98] Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program, commonly referred to as PHP Remote File Inclusion.

Successful exploitation can expose sensitive configuration files, source code, or lead to code execution when attacker-controlled content reaches an include or require statement. The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can include arbitrary local files through the Tipsy theme, potentially leading to source code disclosure, credential theft, and code execution on the WordPress host.

Affected Products

Tipsy WordPress theme versions ≤ 1.1
WordPress sites using the Tipsy theme
Hosting environments serving the vulnerable theme to public traffic

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-17 - CVE-2025-69173 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69173

Vulnerability Analysis

The Tipsy WordPress theme processes user-supplied input and passes it into a PHP file inclusion routine without sufficient validation. Because the theme does not restrict the input to a whitelist of permitted templates, an attacker can manipulate the parameter to reference arbitrary paths. The flaw is reachable over the network and does not require authentication.

The attack complexity is rated high because successful exploitation depends on conditions such as PHP configuration (allow_url_include, open_basedir), file system layout, and the presence of useful files to read or include. When those conditions align, an attacker can obtain confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts on the targeted host.

The EPSS probability is approximately 0.43% with a percentile near 34.6, indicating exploitation is not yet widely observed. However, file inclusion flaws in public WordPress themes typically attract automated scanning shortly after disclosure.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper control of a filename passed to a PHP include or require statement [CWE-98]. The Tipsy theme accepts a request parameter and concatenates it into an include path without canonicalizing the value, restricting it to an allowlist, or rejecting traversal sequences such as ../.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated remote attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable Tipsy endpoint. The request supplies a path parameter referencing an arbitrary local file, such as wp-config.php, system credential files, or log files seeded with attacker-controlled content. The PHP interpreter then includes that file, exposing its contents or executing it as PHP.

For technical specifics on the affected parameter and endpoint, refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69173

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Tipsy theme PHP files containing path traversal sequences such as ../ or URL-encoded variants like %2e%2e%2f
Access log entries referencing sensitive paths such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or PHP session files passed as query parameters
Unexpected PHP errors in web server logs referencing include() or require() on attacker-supplied paths
Outbound network connections from the web server immediately following suspicious theme requests

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests targeting Tipsy theme files with file path parameters
Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that flag LFI patterns including traversal sequences and null byte injection
Correlate PHP error log entries with HTTP request patterns to identify failed inclusion attempts
Audit installed WordPress themes against the affected version range to identify exposed sites

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose PHP error logging temporarily on affected hosts to capture inclusion attempts
Monitor file integrity on wp-config.php and other sensitive configuration files
Alert on unusual reads of system files by the web server user account
Track outbound connections originating from the PHP process for signs of post-exploitation activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69173

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Tipsy theme on all WordPress installations until a fixed version is released
Switch affected sites to a maintained theme that does not contain the LFI flaw
Review web server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts dating back to the theme's installation
Rotate WordPress secrets, database credentials, and API keys if wp-config.php disclosure is suspected

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry. Monitor the Patchstack advisory for updated fix information and replace the theme once a patched release is published.

Workarounds

Block requests to vulnerable Tipsy theme endpoints at the WAF or reverse proxy layer
Set allow_url_include = Off and configure open_basedir in php.ini to restrict file system access
Apply least privilege to the web server user so it cannot read sensitive configuration files outside the WordPress document root
Remove the Tipsy theme directory from wp-content/themes/ if it is not in active use

bash

# Example php.ini hardening to limit LFI impact
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"
disable_functions = "exec,passthru,shell_exec,system,proc_open,popen"