CVE-2014-125134 in ChurcHope Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
ChurcHope theme for WordPress before 2.2 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to download arbitrary files through the 'file' parameter of /wp-content/themes/churchope/lib/downloadlink.php. Attackers can supply directory traversal sequences to read sensitive files like wp-config.php or /etc/passwd, exposing database credentials. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-18.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The ChurcHope WordPress theme prior to version 2.2 contains a critical path traversal vulnerability located within its file download functionality, specifically in the script /wp-content/themes/churchope/lib/downloadlink.php. This flaw stems from an insufficient validation of user-supplied input passed through the 'file' parameter. The application fails to properly sanitize or canonicalize directory paths before processing them, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended file path using standard Unix-style directory traversal sequences such as ../. Because this endpoint is accessible without requiring authentication, any internet-facing WordPress site utilizing an affected version of this theme presents a significant security risk that can be exploited by unauthenticated adversaries with minimal technical effort.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files and system resources. By injecting directory traversal characters into the 'file' parameter, attackers can navigate outside the intended web root or theme directory structure to read arbitrary files on the server's file system. A primary target in such attacks is typically wp-config.php, which contains database credentials including usernames, passwords, and authentication keys. Compromise of these credentials allows attackers to gain direct access to the WordPress database, potentially leading to full site takeover, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Additionally, depending on server permissions, attackers may attempt to read other sensitive files such as /etc/passwd or application logs, which can provide valuable intelligence for subsequent attacks like privilege escalation or social engineering campaigns.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and is categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, as it enables attackers to enumerate and access restricted files on the system. The exploitation evidence for this specific flaw was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on October 18, 2023, indicating active real-world targeting of WordPress sites running vulnerable versions of the ChurcHope theme. This observation underscores the urgency for immediate remediation as automated scanning tools and threat actors frequently exploit such known weaknesses in widely used themes to compromise large numbers of websites efficiently.
To mitigate this vulnerability, site administrators must immediately upgrade the ChurcHope theme to version 2.2 or later, where the path traversal flaw has been addressed through proper input validation and secure file handling practices. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, temporary mitigations include restricting access to the downloadlink.php endpoint via web server configuration rules such as .htaccess directives in Apache or location blocks in Nginx, effectively blocking external requests to this specific script until a patch can be applied. Furthermore, implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block directory traversal sequences like ../ in query parameters can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts while the underlying code issue is resolved. Regular security audits and monitoring for unusual file access patterns are also recommended to ensure ongoing protection against similar vulnerabilities.