CVE-2025-15637 in Shuffle Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion in Shuffle <= 1.8 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated local file inclusion flaw within Shuffle application versions prior to or equal to 1.8 represents a critical security deficiency that allows attackers to read arbitrary files from the underlying server operating system without requiring valid credentials. This type of vulnerability typically arises when a web application accepts user-supplied input, such as parameters in HTTP requests, and incorporates this data into file paths used by the server-side scripting engine or framework to include local resources. In the specific context of Shuffle versions up to 1.8, the lack of proper validation on these inputs enables an attacker to manipulate path traversal sequences, commonly known as directory traversal attacks using dot-dot-slash characters, to escape the intended application directory and access sensitive system files located elsewhere in the file hierarchy.
From a technical perspective, local file inclusion vulnerabilities exploit weaknesses in how dynamic content is loaded into server-side scripts. When the application processes requests containing maliciously crafted filenames or paths, it fails to sanitize or restrict these inputs against known dangerous patterns. This oversight allows an attacker to specify absolute paths on the target system rather than relative ones confined to the web root. By leveraging this flaw, a remote unauthenticated actor can read critical configuration files that may contain database credentials, API keys, secret tokens, and other sensitive authentication material stored in plaintext or weakly encrypted formats within the application's directory structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its unauthenticated nature, meaning no prior access or login is required to exploit it. Once an attacker successfully reads these configuration files, they can extract credentials that provide direct access to backend databases, external services, or administrative interfaces associated with the Shuffle deployment. This initial foothold often serves as a precursor for further exploitation, including remote code execution if the application allows writing to included files or if sensitive data leads to privilege escalation on the host system. The compromise of these secrets can lead to full control over the affected environment, resulting in data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure where Shuffle is deployed.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-22 for Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and CWE-98 for Improper Control of Filename for Include Statement. In terms of offensive security frameworks, it maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083 which covers File and Directory Discovery, as well as T1552 Unsecured Credentials if the included files contain exposed secrets. Defense in depth strategies are essential here; organizations should immediately upgrade Shuffle to a version later than 1.8 where this path validation logic has been corrected. Additionally, implementing strict input validation that rejects any non-alphanumeric characters or directory traversal sequences is crucial for preventing similar flaws across other web applications. Web application firewalls can also be configured with rulesets specifically designed to detect and block HTTP requests containing encoded slash-dot-slash patterns or null bytes intended for path manipulation.