CVE-2025-47653 in WP-Recall Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2025
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in tggfref WP-Recall allows PHP Local File Inclusion. This issue affects WP-Recall: from n/a through 16.26.14.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The CVE-2025-47653 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw within the tggfref WP-Recall plugin, which operates under the broader WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters in include or require statements, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the execution flow of PHP applications. The flaw specifically affects WP-Recall versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 16.26.14, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple releases. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-98, which describes improper control of a resource through a statement that can be controlled by an attacker, directly linking to the dangerous practice of allowing external input to influence file inclusion operations.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that gets passed to PHP's include or require functions. When an attacker can manipulate parameters that control which files are included, they can potentially load arbitrary PHP files from remote servers or local filesystem locations. This creates a dangerous attack surface where malicious code can be executed with the privileges of the web server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for Local File Inclusion attacks, where attackers can access sensitive files on the server or execute malicious code through the inclusion mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to server resources. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to data breaches, server compromise, or even full system takeover. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations that rely on the tggfref WP-Recall plugin, making it a significant concern for thousands of websites that have not yet updated to patched versions. The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple versions suggests that proper input validation and sanitization were not adequately implemented or maintained throughout the plugin's development lifecycle, creating a lasting security risk for affected users.
Security mitigations for CVE-2025-47653 must focus on immediate patching of the affected WP-Recall plugin to version 16.26.15 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of filename parameters. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures including restricting file inclusion operations to predefined safe paths, implementing proper input validation that rejects suspicious characters or protocols, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious inclusion attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 for Server Software Component and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, indicating that attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access and execute commands on compromised systems. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes, as this type of flaw is common in WordPress environments where proper security controls are not consistently applied.