CVE-2025-26909 in Hide My WP Ghost Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2025
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in John Darrel Hide My WP Ghost allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Hide My WP Ghost: from n/a through 5.4.01.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2025
The CVE-2025-26909 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw in the Hide My WP Ghost plugin, which operates under the CWE-98 category of improper control of filename for include/require statements. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms within the PHP application, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution and unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The flaw specifically exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input that is directly used in include or require statements without proper sanitization or validation. The affected version range spans from the initial release through version 5.4.01, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple iterations of the plugin. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1505.003 for Server-Side Includes and represents a classic path traversal attack vector that can be exploited to load malicious files from remote servers or local system directories.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate or sanitize user input before using it in PHP include/require directives. When an attacker can influence the filename parameter passed to these functions, they can potentially load arbitrary PHP files from remote servers or local file system locations. This occurs because the application does not properly restrict the input to only legitimate file paths or names, allowing attackers to inject malicious file paths that bypass normal access controls. The vulnerability can be exploited through various means including direct parameter manipulation in HTTP requests, where attackers craft malicious URLs or form submissions that contain specially crafted file paths. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal file access controls and execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly relates to the CWE-98 weakness which describes insufficient control over filename parameters in include/require statements, making it a fundamental security flaw in the application's input handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-26909 is severe and far-reaching, as it can enable attackers to achieve complete system compromise through remote code execution. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can potentially gain access to sensitive data, modify or delete files, establish backdoors, and escalate privileges within the affected system. The vulnerability can be leveraged to execute malicious code on the web server, potentially allowing attackers to gain shell access or perform further attacks against the internal network. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution as it can lead to persistent access, data exfiltration, and compromise of other systems within the network. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges and can remain undetected for extended periods. The plugin's widespread use makes this vulnerability particularly impactful, as it affects numerous WordPress installations that rely on Hide My WP Ghost for security protection. The vulnerability can be exploited through automated scanning tools, making it a common target for mass exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-26909 should focus on immediate patching and input validation improvements. The most effective solution involves updating to a patched version of Hide My WP Ghost that properly validates and sanitizes all user input before using it in include/require statements. Organizations should implement proper input validation mechanisms that restrict file paths to predefined safe locations and reject any input containing suspicious characters or sequences. The implementation of a whitelist approach for file inclusion, where only predetermined valid files can be included, provides strong protection against this type of attack. Additionally, administrators should ensure that PHP's allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen directives are disabled in the php.ini configuration file, which prevents remote file inclusion attacks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and plugins. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging of file inclusion activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain compliance with security standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST SP 800-53.