CVE-2023-25998 in Samex Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2025
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in snstheme Samex - Clean, Minimal Shop WooCommerce WordPress Theme allows PHP Local File Inclusion. This issue affects Samex - Clean, Minimal Shop WooCommerce WordPress Theme: from n/a through 2.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2025
The CVE-2023-25998 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw that specifically impacts the snstheme Samex - Clean, Minimal Shop WooCommerce WordPress Theme. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper control of filename for include/require statements, which constitutes a fundamental security weakness in PHP application development. The issue allows attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms within the theme's codebase, potentially enabling unauthorized access to local files and execution of arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through version 2.6, indicating a long-standing security gap that has persisted across multiple iterations of the theme.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the theme's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before using it in include or require statements. When an attacker can influence the filename parameter passed to these PHP functions, they can potentially load and execute malicious files from the local filesystem or remote servers. This weakness directly relates to CWE-98, which describes improper control of code execution through file inclusion mechanisms. The vulnerability operates by accepting user-controllable parameters that are then directly incorporated into PHP's include/require functions without adequate input validation or sanitization, creating an attack surface where remote code execution becomes possible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file inclusion, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system resources and data. In the context of a WordPress WooCommerce theme, this could enable attackers to access database credentials, user information, or other sensitive configuration data stored on the server. The vulnerability's presence in a widely-used e-commerce theme increases its potential impact significantly, as compromised sites could lead to financial data theft, customer information breaches, and complete system takeover. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to upload backdoors, establish persistent access, or escalate privileges within the compromised environment, making it a serious concern for WordPress site administrators and security professionals.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-25998 should prioritize immediate patching of affected themes to the latest available versions that contain proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures that prevent user-controllable parameters from being passed directly to include/require functions, adhering to the principle of least privilege in file access operations. The implementation of secure coding practices including whitelisting of allowed file paths, proper parameter sanitization, and the use of absolute paths for file inclusion operations can effectively prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns and unauthorized code execution attempts, while network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding guidelines and maintaining up-to-date software components as outlined in various security frameworks and standards including those referenced in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's techniques for privilege escalation and remote code execution.