Plugin Name	Creta Testimonial Showcase
Type of Vulnerability	Local File Inclusion
CVE Number	CVE-2025-10686
Urgency	Low
CVE Publish Date	2025-11-17
Source URL	CVE-2025-10686

CVE-2025-10686 — Creta Testimonial Showcase (< 1.2.4) Editor Local File Inclusion: Critical Actions for WordPress Site Security

Date: 2025-11-14
Author: Managed-WP Security Team

Executive Summary

A Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-10686 impacts the Creta Testimonial Showcase WordPress plugin, affecting all versions prior to 1.2.4. This flaw enables an attacker with Editor-level access to coerce the plugin into rendering arbitrary local files from your web server. The consequences include exposing critical secrets such as wp-config.php or backup files and, under certain configurations, pose a risk of complete database exposure.

If your WordPress site uses this plugin, immediate upgrading to version 1.2.4 or later is imperative. In scenarios where immediate updates are unfeasible, implement mitigations including plugin deactivation, restricting Editor privileges, disabling file editing, and deploying virtual patching via a Web Application Firewall (WAF) until full remediation.

This advisory provides a detailed overview of the vulnerability, assessed risks, detection methodologies, mitigation tactics, and long-term defense strategies crafted for security-conscious WordPress site administrators, developers, and managed hosting providers.

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Target Audience

• WordPress site owners with Creta Testimonial Showcase installed
• Administrators managing Editor or similar privileged roles
• Hosting providers and managed WordPress security teams
• Security professionals overseeing vulnerability response and incident management

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Vulnerability Overview

• Vulnerability ID: CVE-2025-10686
• Affected Software: Creta Testimonial Showcase WordPress plugin
• Affected Versions: Versions older than 1.2.4
• Type: Local File Inclusion (LFI)
• Required Privilege: Editor user capabilities
• Discovery: Reported by security researcher (credited in advisory)
• Resolution: Patch applied in version 1.2.4

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities occur when an application improperly processes user-supplied input used in file path construction. Here, an Editor-level user can manipulate input parameters to load arbitrary local files outside the intended scope, risking sensitive information disclosure and potential escalation.

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Risk Assessment and Impact

1. Exposure of Sensitive Information: Files such as wp-config.php contain credentials and salts essential for database and site security. Exposure can lead to severe breaches.
2. Editor-level Privilege Exploitation: While interaction requires Editor access, such accounts are commonly granted, increasing exploitation likelihood.
3. Privileged Escalation Potential: Attackers obtaining Editor credentials via compromised accounts or weak policies can leverage this flaw to escalate attacks.
4. Automated Exploit Threat: Known vulnerabilities of this nature often see swift automated exploitation once disclosed publicly.
5. CVSS Scoring: Rated 7.2, indicative of high impact but dependent on existing privilege context and server environment.

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Technical Breakdown

• The plugin exposes an endpoint or administrative interface allowing file selection influenced by user input.
• The lack of strict validation permits directory traversal sequences like ../, enabling file path manipulation beyond intended directories.
• Relative path inclusions by PHP functions such as include() or readfile() are exploited to load arbitrary files.
• Patch Details: Version 1.2.4 introduces whitelisting, canonicalization checks (e.g., using realpath()), and disallows traversal sequences, effectively restricting file access to safe locations.

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Real-World Exploitation Scenarios

• An attacker with compromised Editor credentials requests sensitive files through manipulated plugin endpoints, harvesting database credentials for further compromise.
• Using an Editor account, adversaries exfiltrate backup files and other sensitive content stored in protected directories.
• Wide-scale automated scanning tools identify vulnerable versions by attempting traversal payloads, exposing many unpatched deployments rapidly.

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Signs of Exploitation and Logging Indicators

• HTTP requests containing traversal strings such as ../ or encoded equivalents (%2e%2e%2f).
• Query or POST parameters referencing filenames like wp-config.php, .env, or database dumps.
• Uncharacteristic access patterns from Editor-level sessions to plugin-specific endpoints.
• Rapid sequential or enumerating requests targeting multiple sensitive files.
• Unexpected 200 OK responses from paths that should not be accessible publicly.
• Anomalous spikes of traffic from single IP addresses targeting the plugin’s files.

Proactively configure alerting on traversal attempts referencing sensitive files and monitor Editor activity closely for anomalies.

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Immediate Remediation Guidance

1. Upgrade Plugin: Update Creta Testimonial Showcase to version 1.2.4 or newer immediately.
2. Interim Measures if Update is Delayed:
   • Deactivate or remove the affected plugin temporarily.
   • Restrict or audit Editor-level accounts, reducing privileges where possible.
3. Disable WordPress File Editing: Add define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); to wp-config.php to prevent unwanted code modifications.
4. Secure Sensitive File Storage: Ensure backups and confidential files are not publicly accessible and enforce strict file permissions.
5. Scan and Analyze: Conduct thorough malware scans and verify integrity of critical files such as wp-config.php and .htaccess.
6. Deploy WAF Rules: Apply virtual patching via Web Application Firewall to block suspicious requests until full remediation is complete.

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Recommended WAF / Virtual Patching Rules

Deploy tailored WAF rules to protect your site during the patching process. Customize these example conceptual patterns for your environment:

• Block requests to plugin paths containing traversal sequences and sensitive file references.
• Deny Editor-authenticated requests with suspicious query parameters containing ../ or encoded traversal.
• Filter requests with URI or arguments containing path traversal patterns (\.\./, %2e%2e%2f).
• Reject requests containing the file:// scheme.

Example ModSecurity rule (conceptual):
SecRule ARGS|REQUEST_URI "(?:\.\./|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/)" "id:100001,phase:2,deny,log,msg:'Blocked LFI traversal attempt'"

Balance accuracy to minimize false positives and review logs regularly after implementation.

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Long-Term Security Best Practices

1. Principle of Least Privilege: Only assign Editor or Administrator roles to thoroughly vetted users and separate content and maintenance roles.
2. Limit Plugin and Theme Management Access: Restrict installation, update, and editing capabilities to Administrators.
3. Protect Sensitive Data: Store backups externally or with strong server-level restrictions.
4. Sanitize Plugin Input: Developers must rigorously validate and canonicalize file paths, using whitelists and never including files from unsanitized user input.
5. Harden Server Configuration: Disable risky PHP options (e.g., allow_url_include), enforce open_basedir restrictions, and apply stringent file permissions.
6. Maintain Vigilant Patch Management: Track plugin updates closely and consider ongoing virtual patching solutions for zero-day protection.

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Incident Response Checklist

1. Contain: Temporarily take compromised sites offline or place in maintenance mode.
2. Revoke and Secure Credentials: Reset passwords and restrict Editor accounts.
3. Investigate and Collect Evidence: Preserve logs, backups, and file snapshots for forensic review.
4. Remove Malicious Artifacts: Eliminate webshells or unauthorized modifications.
5. Recover: Patch plugins, restore backups if needed, and rotate all secrets.
6. Harden: Review security controls, enforce multi-factor authentication, and tighten permissions.
7. Notify: Inform any relevant stakeholders compliant with data breach policies.

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Detection and SIEM Monitoring

Customize queries in your SIEM or log management system for enhanced detection:

• Search for ../ or encoded traversal strings in URLs and POST bodies.
• Identify Editor users accessing plugin endpoints with suspicious parameters.
• Monitor references to sensitive files (wp-config.php, .env, etc.) in requests.
• Detect unusual database access patterns post exploitation.

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Developer Recommendations for Secure Coding

• Avoid directly including user input in file paths.
• Whitelist accepted template or file names rigorously.
• Use realpath() to canonicalize file paths and verify boundaries.
• Perform capability checks to limit access to authorized roles only.
• Integrate automated testing to catch traversal and path injection regressions.

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Managed WordPress Service Provider Guidelines

• Proactively scan client sites for vulnerable plugin versions.
• Apply temporary server-level protections pending patch application.
• Assist clients with credential resets and strengthen access policies.
• Implement hardened PHP configurations and environment isolation.

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Priority Action Items Summary

1. Update Creta Testimonial Showcase plugin to version 1.2.4 or later without delay.
2. Temporarily deactivate plugin or remove vulnerable files if updates are postponed.
3. Audit and harden Editor permissions and credentials.
4. Disable WordPress file editing to reduce insider risks.
5. Deploy WAF rules to block traversal and sensitive file requests in the interim.
6. Conduct thorough site scans and prepare an incident response plan.

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Layered Security in Action: What Managed-WP Blocks at the WAF Level

Managed-WP’s advanced Web Application Firewall focuses on precision blocking to minimize false positives, including:

• Requests hitting /wp-admin/ or plugin directories containing path traversal strings.
• Requests with query parameters referencing sensitive filenames.
• Unusual Editor session activities accessing plugin endpoints.

These automated virtual patches provide crucial time to update plugins and perform comprehensive remediation.

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About Managed-WP’s Security Solutions

Managed-WP empowers WordPress site owners with multi-tiered defense mechanisms specifically tailored for real-world threats like CVE-2025-10686:

• Custom Web Application Firewall rules aimed at immediately blocking path traversal and LFI attempts.
• Continuous malware scanning to detect unauthorized file modifications and webshells.
• Pre-configured OWASP Top-10 protections to mitigate prevalent injection attacks.
• Advanced virtual patching for zero-day vulnerabilities and deferred updates.

For security-conscious WordPress administrators, Managed-WP offers trusted, proactive protection integrated with expert advisory and remediation support.

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Final Recommendations

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-10686 present high-impact risks due to their potential for critical data exposure and downstream compromise. The Editor privilege requirement does not eliminate risk, as these accounts are widely used and occasionally compromised.

Your immediate priority is to update the plugin. Complement this with defense-in-depth practices including least privilege policies, disabling file editing, and deploying WAF protections. If you seek expert assistance with vulnerability assessment, virtual patching, or forensic review, consult Managed-WP’s professional security team.

Protect your WordPress assets proactively — security is an ongoing commitment, and timely action dramatically lowers your risk.

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