CVE-2025-23938 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.5. It pertains to an improper control of filename for include/require statements in a PHP program, specifically affecting the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box plugin. This vulnerability allows PHP local file inclusion, which can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files within the server. The plugin versions affected are from n/a up to and including version 1.0.3.
Given the vulnerability's potential impact, organizations utilizing the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box should be aware of the exploitation risks. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain access to confidential information or disrupt service availability. As such, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
The vulnerability was published on January 22, 2025, and has been marked as deferred, indicating that while it is known, it may not have been fully addressed in a timely manner. The risk to organizations includes high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, which necessitate urgent action from security teams.
Currently, no public exploit or proof of concept has been confirmed for this vulnerability, but the implications of its exploitation remain significant. Organizations should ensure they have robust software security measures in place to defend against potential attacks.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows PHP Local File Inclusion, impacting systems running the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box plugin. The CVSS vector provided is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, reflecting a network attack vector with high attack complexity and low privileges required for exploitation.
The potential impacts are severe, including high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-98, indicating an issue with improper control of filenames.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper validation regarding file inclusion paths in the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box plugin. Attackers can exploit this flaw by manipulating the input to include arbitrary files from the server, leading to potential disclosure of sensitive data.
The attack vector is network-based, requiring low privileges and no user interaction to exploit. The complexity of the attack is considered high, as it involves crafting specific requests to trigger the inclusion mechanism.
The impacts of this vulnerability are significant. Confidentiality is compromised as sensitive files may be disclosed, integrity can be affected through unauthorized modifications, and availability may be impacted if critical files are altered or deleted.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations that deploy the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box plugin face a considerable risk if this vulnerability is not addressed. The high severity of the vulnerability coupled with its exploitation potential means that any successful attack could lead to severe data breaches, loss of data integrity, or service disruptions.
The blast radius for this vulnerability is significant, affecting not only the compromised system but potentially allowing lateral movement within the network, leading to further exposure of sensitive systems and data.
Given the urgency indicated by the CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should schedule remediation as part of their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box plugin are from n/a through version 1.0.3. Ensuring updates to the latest version is essential in mitigating this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must prioritize updates to the CRUDLab Image Gallery Box plugin. Patching to the latest version will mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. If a patch is unavailable, organizations should consider implementing configuration hardening measures and conducting thorough security testing.
For further guidance, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services to validate the effectiveness of their remediation efforts.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual file access patterns and any attempts to include unexpected files. Behavioral anomalies in the application should also be tracked to identify potential exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-23938 lies in its representation of common weaknesses in PHP applications, particularly regarding file inclusion vulnerabilities. Security teams must learn from this case to implement stricter validation controls on user inputs.
This vulnerability highlights the need for continuous security assessments and proactive measures. By adopting a vulnerability management program, organizations can better defend against similar threats in the future.
Moreover, regular penetration testing methodology can unveil hidden vulnerabilities that may exist within application layers.
As we move forward, this vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough security practices and the need to stay vigilant against emerging threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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