CVE-2025-69375: Portfolio Builder Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-69375 Overview

CVE-2025-69375 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the SolverWp Portfolio Builder WordPress plugin (swp-portfolio). This vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters used in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server filesystem.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can potentially read sensitive configuration files, access credentials, or chain with other techniques to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable WordPress installations.

Affected Products

SolverWp Portfolio Builder (swp-portfolio) versions up to and including 1.2.5
WordPress installations running the vulnerable plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-02-20 - CVE-2025-69375 published to NVD
2026-02-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69375

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The Portfolio Builder plugin fails to properly sanitize user-controlled input before passing it to PHP file inclusion functions such as include(), include_once(), require(), or require_once().

When exploited, an attacker can manipulate file path parameters to traverse directories and include arbitrary files from the local filesystem. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive information such as wp-config.php contents, database credentials, and other configuration data. In certain scenarios, if an attacker can control or influence file contents elsewhere on the system (log poisoning, file upload functionality), this LFI vulnerability could be escalated to achieve remote code execution.

The network-based attack vector with high complexity indicates that while the vulnerability is remotely exploitable, successful exploitation may require specific conditions or additional steps beyond a simple HTTP request.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Portfolio Builder plugin. The plugin accepts user-supplied input for file path parameters without adequately validating or restricting the input to expected values. This allows path traversal sequences (such as ../) or absolute file paths to be injected, causing the PHP application to include unintended files.

Proper mitigation would require implementing strict input validation, using allowlists for permitted file names, and avoiding direct use of user input in file inclusion functions.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed remotely over the network without requiring authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal payloads targeting vulnerable parameters within the Portfolio Builder plugin. The attack flow typically involves:

Identifying a vulnerable parameter that accepts file path input
Crafting a request with directory traversal sequences to escape the intended directory
Including sensitive files such as /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
Extracting sensitive information or leveraging the inclusion for further exploitation

For detailed technical analysis and proof-of-concept information, see the Patchstack WordPress Plugin Vulnerability advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69375

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual HTTP requests to Portfolio Builder plugin endpoints containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ..%252f)
Access log entries showing attempts to access system files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php through plugin parameters
Unexpected file access patterns in web server logs targeting the swp-portfolio plugin directory
Error logs indicating failed file inclusion attempts or permission denied messages for system files

Detection Strategies

Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in request parameters
Implement log monitoring for requests containing encoded or double-encoded traversal sequences
Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on LFI attack signatures targeting WordPress plugins
Monitor for anomalous access patterns to the Portfolio Builder plugin endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on WordPress and web server to capture detailed request information
Set up alerts for requests containing common LFI payloads such as php://filter, expect://, or repeated ../ sequences
Regularly review access logs for reconnaissance activity targeting plugin directories
Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files to detect unauthorized access attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69375

Immediate Actions Required

Update the SolverWp Portfolio Builder plugin to a patched version when available from the vendor
If no patch is available, consider temporarily deactivating and removing the swp-portfolio plugin until a security update is released
Implement WAF rules to block path traversal attempts targeting your WordPress installation
Restrict file system permissions to limit the impact of potential file inclusion attacks
Review and audit other installed WordPress plugins for similar vulnerabilities

Patch Information

Monitor the Patchstack advisory and WordPress plugin repository for official security updates from SolverWp. Ensure automatic plugin updates are enabled where feasible to receive patches promptly.

Workarounds

Disable the Portfolio Builder plugin until an official patch is released
Implement a Web Application Firewall with rules blocking common LFI patterns and path traversal sequences
Apply PHP configuration hardening by setting open_basedir to restrict file access to the WordPress directory
Use server-level access controls to restrict read permissions on sensitive files
Consider implementing virtual patching through security plugins like Patchstack or Wordfence

bash

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

# For nginx with PHP-FPM, add to pool configuration:
# php_admin_value[open_basedir] = /var/www/html/wordpress/:/tmp/