CVE-2019-25779 in Diarise
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2026
WooThemes Diarise through 1.5.9 contains a file read vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files through the calendar parameter of download.php. Attackers can send GET requests with file:// scheme paths to the calendar parameter to disclose sensitive files like /etc/passwd. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-19.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The vulnerability identified in WooThemes Diarise versions up to and including 1.5.9 represents a critical security flaw classified as an Arbitrary File Read, which aligns with CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. This weakness allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass intended access controls and retrieve sensitive information from the underlying file system of the targeted server. The root cause lies in the improper validation or sanitization of user-supplied input within the calendar parameter of the download.php script. By failing to restrict the scope of files that can be accessed, the application inadvertently exposes internal resources to external actors who possess no legitimate authorization to view them.
The technical mechanism for exploitation involves crafting a specific HTTP GET request where the calendar parameter is manipulated to include file:// scheme paths. This technique leverages PHP's ability to process stream wrappers, allowing attackers to point the script toward local system files rather than intended application resources. For instance, by injecting /etc/passwd or other critical configuration and credential stores into this parameter, an attacker can force the server to read and return the contents of these files in the HTTP response. This capability effectively turns the web application into a tool for reconnaissance, enabling adversaries to map out the system architecture, identify user accounts with elevated privileges, and gather data necessary for further attacks such as privilege escalation or credential stuffing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its unauthenticated nature, meaning no valid login credentials are required to initiate an attack. This significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors, including automated bots scanning the internet for vulnerable instances. The exposure of sensitive files can lead directly to data breaches involving personal identifiable information, administrative credentials, or proprietary code structures. Furthermore, evidence gathered by the Shadowserver Foundation on October 19, 2023, indicates that this vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild. This real-world exploitation suggests that organizations running affected versions are at immediate risk of compromise and potential data exfiltration without any prior detection or defensive measures having been triggered.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this activity aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries explore the target system to gather information for subsequent phases of an intrusion campaign. The use of file:// wrappers is also consistent with techniques observed in broader web application attacks aimed at bypassing input validation filters. Given that exploitation has been publicly documented and actively monitored by security research firms like Shadowserver Foundation, it is highly probable that exploit code or automated scanning tools are already circulating within criminal communities targeting this specific software version.
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, immediate action is required to update WooThemes Diarise to a patched version where 1.5.9 is no longer supported. If updating is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement strict input validation on all parameters passed to PHP scripts, specifically ensuring that file paths are canonicalized and checked against an allowlist of permitted directories. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall can help detect and block requests containing suspicious patterns such as file:// schemes or attempts to access system-level files like /etc/passwd. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input handling flaws in other parts of the application before they are exploited by adversaries leveraging these known weaknesses.