CVE-2025-23945
Published: 03 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-23945 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 23.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly mandates identification, reporting, and correction of specific flaws like the improper filename control in Popliup's PHP include/require statements.
Requires validation mechanisms at input points to block malicious filenames enabling local file inclusion in the vulnerable WordPress plugin.
Scans for vulnerabilities such as CVE-2025-23945 in installed plugins, enabling timely detection and remediation.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is an LFI in a public-facing WordPress plugin exploitable by low-privileged authenticated users, directly enabling exploitation of public-facing applications (T1190) and privilege escalation via high-impact code execution or file inclusion (T1068).
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Webliup Popliup popliup allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Popliup: from n/a through <= 1.1.1.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-23945 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement vulnerability, classified as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion, in the Popliup WordPress plugin. The issue affects Popliup versions from n/a through 1.1.1 and is associated with CWE-98. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Low-privileged authenticated users can exploit this vulnerability remotely with high attack complexity and no user interaction. Successful exploitation results in high impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing attackers to include local files via improper filename controls in PHP include/require statements.
The Patchstack advisory provides further details on this vulnerability, available at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/popliup/vulnerability/wordpress-popliup-plugin-1-1-1-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.
Details
- CWE(s)