CVE-2025-67988: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-67988 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the LoftOcean CozyStay WordPress theme, classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement). It affects all CozyStay versions prior to 1.9.1 and was reported by researcher João Pedro S Alcântara (Kinorth) on November 22, 2025, with public disclosure on February 5, 2026. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (High) (Patchstack, Red Hat CVE).

The vulnerability stems from improper control of filenames used in PHP include/require statements within the CozyStay theme (CWE-98), which allows an attacker to manipulate file path parameters and cause the server to include arbitrary local files. The attack vector is network-based, requires no authentication or user interaction, and has high attack complexity. Exploitation follows the CAPEC-193 (PHP Remote File Inclusion) attack pattern, though in this case the impact is local file inclusion — enabling attackers to read sensitive files such as configuration files containing database credentials (Patchstack, Red Hat CVE).

Successful exploitation of this LFI vulnerability can result in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. An unauthenticated remote attacker could read sensitive local files (e.g., wp-config.php containing database credentials), potentially leading to full database compromise, unauthorized code execution via log poisoning or similar techniques, and service disruption. The scope is limited to the affected WordPress installation, but credential exposure could enable lateral movement to backend databases or other connected systems (Patchstack).

As of the time of disclosure, no public proof-of-concept exploit code has been identified, and there is no confirmed evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. The EPSS score is approximately 0.053%, indicating a low but non-negligible probability of exploitation in the near term. The vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Patchstack has flagged it as high priority, noting that vulnerabilities of this class are commonly used in mass-exploit campaigns targeting WordPress sites regardless of traffic volume (Patchstack, Red Hat CVE).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites using the CozyStay theme (versions < 1.9.1) via passive fingerprinting tools (e.g., WPScan, Shodan) by detecting theme-specific assets or metadata in HTTP responses.
2. Identify vulnerable parameter: Analyze the CozyStay theme's PHP code or observed HTTP requests to locate parameters passed to include/require statements without proper sanitization.
3. Craft malicious request: Send a crafted HTTP request (GET or POST) to the vulnerable endpoint with a manipulated file path parameter pointing to a sensitive local file (e.g., ../../../../wp-config.php or /etc/passwd).
4. Extract sensitive data: Review the server's HTTP response for the contents of the included file, which may expose database credentials, secret keys, or other configuration data.
5. Escalate access: Use extracted credentials (e.g., database username/password from wp-config.php) to access the WordPress database directly, enabling full site takeover or further lateral movement (Patchstack).

• Network: Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2F, %2e%2e%2f) in query parameters or POST body targeting CozyStay theme endpoints; unexpected outbound connections from the web server to external hosts.
• Logs: Web server access logs showing requests with encoded or raw directory traversal patterns (e.g., ../../../../wp-config.php) to theme-related PHP files; repeated 200 OK responses to such requests indicating successful file inclusion.
• File System: Unexpected access timestamps on sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or PHP session files; presence of web shells or newly created PHP files in the theme directory.
• Process: Unusual PHP child processes spawned by the web server process; unexpected database connection attempts from the web server host using credentials found in wp-config.php (Patchstack).

The primary remediation is to update the CozyStay theme to version 1.9.1 or later, which contains the fix for this vulnerability. Patchstack has issued a virtual patch (mitigation rule) for subscribers to block exploitation attempts until the theme can be updated. Additional hardening measures include implementing input validation and whitelisting for file inclusion parameters, deploying WAF rules to detect path traversal and LFI patterns, and monitoring web server logs for suspicious file access activity (Patchstack).

Patchstack, which coordinated the disclosure, classified this as a high-priority vulnerability and noted that LFI vulnerabilities of this type are frequently leveraged in mass-exploit campaigns against WordPress sites. The vulnerability was reported through Patchstack's Active VDP (Vulnerability Disclosure Program) by researcher João Pedro S Alcântara (Kinorth). No significant broader media coverage or notable social media commentary has been identified beyond the initial Patchstack advisory (Patchstack).