CVE-2025-28916

Remediation/Mitigation Strategy for CVE-2025-28916

This document outlines the remediation and mitigation strategy for CVE-2025-28916, a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability found in the Docpro software.

1. Vulnerability Description:

  • Vulnerability: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program (‘PHP Remote File Inclusion’ - but this is leading to LFI)
  • Software: Docpro
  • Affected Versions: Versions up to and including 2.0.1
  • Description: The application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input used in include or require statements in PHP code. This allows an attacker to potentially include and execute arbitrary PHP files located on the server. While technically described as “Remote File Inclusion”, the impact in this case manifests as Local File Inclusion. The attacker does not need to include remote files, merely manipulate the path to include local ones.

2. Severity:

  • CVSS Score: 9.8 (Critical)
  • CVSS Vector: (Based on provided data: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - derived from the score and high impact on Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability)
  • Severity Level: Critical

3. Known Exploits:

While the provided information doesn’t explicitly mention a publicly available exploit, the nature of LFI vulnerabilities makes them relatively easy to exploit. Here’s what an attacker might do:

  • Log Poisoning: The attacker could inject PHP code into server log files (e.g., by sending specially crafted HTTP requests). Then, by manipulating the vulnerable parameter to include the log file, they can execute the injected PHP code.
  • Include Sensitive Files: The attacker could include configuration files (e.g., wp-config.php in a WordPress context), database connection details, or other sensitive information stored on the server.
  • Execute Arbitrary Code: By including files containing PHP code controlled by the attacker (e.g., uploaded via a separate vulnerability or through the web server’s default document root), they can achieve arbitrary code execution on the server.

4. Remediation Strategy:

The primary goal is to eliminate the possibility of local file inclusion by either patching the vulnerable code or implementing robust input validation.

  • Immediate Action:

    • Upgrade Docpro: The most effective solution is to upgrade to a patched version of Docpro. Contact the vendor immediately to determine if a patch is available or if a new version has been released to address CVE-2025-28916. Apply the patch as soon as possible after thorough testing in a non-production environment.
    • Disable the application: If an upgrade is not immediately available and the risk is deemed too high, temporarily disable the Docpro application until a patch can be applied.

  • Long-Term Solutions (if patching is not immediately possible or as a layered defense):

    • Input Validation and Sanitization: Thoroughly review the Docpro codebase, focusing on any include, require, include_once, or require_once statements. Implement strict input validation to ensure that any user-supplied input used as part of the file path is:
      • Whitelisted: Only allow a specific set of pre-defined values (e.g., specific template names). Do not allow arbitrary file paths.
      • Sanitized: If a whitelist is not feasible, sanitize the input by removing or encoding potentially harmful characters, such as:
        • ../ (directory traversal)
        • \ (Windows path separator)
        • Null bytes (%00)
        • Any other characters that could be used to manipulate the file path.
      • Validated: Verify that the sanitized input represents a valid file path within the expected directory.
    • Path Restrictions:
      • Restrict access to sensitive directories: Configure the web server to restrict access to sensitive directories (e.g., /etc, /var/log, database configuration files) from the web.
      • Use open_basedir in php.ini: Restrict PHP’s file access to a specific directory or set of directories. This can prevent the application from accessing files outside the intended scope. Example: open_basedir = /var/www/docpro/. Remember to test thoroughly after implementing this setting.
    • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF with rules to detect and block LFI attacks. Configure the WAF to inspect incoming requests for common LFI patterns (e.g., ../, %00) and block suspicious requests.
    • Code Review: Conduct a thorough code review of the Docpro application to identify other potential vulnerabilities, including other instances of unsanitized input used in file operations.

5. Mitigation Strategy:

Even after implementing the remediation steps, it’s crucial to have a mitigation strategy in place to minimize the impact of a successful exploit.

  • Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure that the web server user account has the minimum necessary privileges to operate the application. This can limit the potential damage caused by a compromised account.
  • Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address any remaining vulnerabilities.
  • Intrusion Detection System (IDS) / Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Deploy an IDS/IPS to detect and respond to suspicious activity on the server. Configure the IDS/IPS to monitor for LFI attempts and other malicious behavior.
  • Monitor Logs: Continuously monitor server logs for suspicious activity, such as attempts to access sensitive files or execute arbitrary code. Implement an alerting system to notify administrators of any suspicious events.
  • Incident Response Plan: Develop and maintain an incident response plan to guide the response to a security breach. The plan should include procedures for identifying, containing, eradicating, and recovering from a security incident.
  • Backup and Recovery: Maintain regular backups of the Docpro application and its data. Ensure that backups are stored securely and can be quickly restored in the event of a compromise.

6. Timeline:

  • Immediate (within 24 hours):
    • Assess the impact of the vulnerability.
    • Apply temporary mitigation measures (e.g., disable the application or implement WAF rules).
    • Contact the vendor for a patch.
  • Short-Term (within 1 week):
    • Deploy a patch from the vendor (if available).
    • Implement input validation and sanitization (if patching is not immediately possible).
    • Restrict access to sensitive directories.
    • Implement open_basedir restriction.
  • Long-Term (ongoing):
    • Conduct regular security audits.
    • Monitor logs for suspicious activity.
    • Maintain an incident response plan.
    • Keep software and security tools up-to-date.

7. Responsibilities:

  • Security Team: Responsible for assessing the vulnerability, developing and implementing remediation and mitigation strategies, conducting security audits, and monitoring logs.
  • Development Team: Responsible for patching the application, implementing input validation and sanitization, and conducting code reviews.
  • System Administrators: Responsible for configuring the web server, deploying security tools, and maintaining backups.

8. Communication:

Communicate the vulnerability and the remediation/mitigation strategy to all stakeholders, including management, developers, and system administrators. Provide regular updates on the progress of the remediation efforts.

By implementing this remediation and mitigation strategy, you can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation of CVE-2025-28916 and protect your systems from attack. Remember to test all changes thoroughly in a non-production environment before deploying them to production.

Assigner

Date

  • Published Date: 2025-03-26 14:24:25
  • Updated Date: 2025-03-26 15:16:17

More Details

CVE-2025-28916