CVE-2023-25995 in AI Mortgage Calculator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2025
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in choicehomemortgage AI Mortgage Calculator allows PHP Local File Inclusion. This issue affects AI Mortgage Calculator: from n/a through 1.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2025
The CVE-2023-25995 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw that specifically targets the choicehomemortgage AI Mortgage Calculator application. This vulnerability stems from improper validation of filename parameters in include/require statements, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the application's file inclusion mechanisms. The flaw exists within the application's handling of user-supplied input that is directly used in PHP include or require functions without adequate sanitization or validation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-98 category, which specifically addresses improper control of filename for include or require statements, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of vulnerability in web applications. The vulnerability affects all versions of the AI Mortgage Calculator from the initial release through version 1.0.1, indicating that the issue has persisted across multiple iterations of the software without proper remediation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate input parameters that are used in PHP include or require statements within the application's code. When user input is directly incorporated into these statements without proper validation, an attacker can potentially inject malicious file paths or URLs that will be executed by the PHP interpreter. This allows for local file inclusion attacks where an attacker can read arbitrary files on the server, potentially including sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or other system files. The vulnerability also opens the door to remote file inclusion attacks, where attackers can include and execute malicious PHP code from remote servers, effectively allowing for remote code execution. This represents a severe security risk as it can provide attackers with complete control over the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-25995 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to full system compromise and persistent access to the affected infrastructure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain access to sensitive customer data, including personal identification information, financial details, and mortgage-related data that the application processes. The vulnerability can also serve as a foothold for further attacks within a network, as attackers can use the compromised system as a launching point for lateral movement. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 for remote code execution and T1566.001 for initial access through web applications. The impact is particularly severe for financial applications like mortgage calculators that handle sensitive personal and financial information, as the data breach could result in identity theft, financial fraud, and regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-25995 require immediate attention and comprehensive implementation across the affected system. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters that are used in include or require statements. This includes using allowlists of approved file names, implementing strict path validation, and avoiding direct user input in file inclusion operations. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege separation to limit the damage that can occur if an attacker successfully exploits the vulnerability. Additionally, the application should be updated to a version that has been patched to address this specific vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should also include proper configuration management to ensure that the application runs with minimal privileges and that sensitive files are properly protected from unauthorized access. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in preventing remote code execution vulnerabilities.