Plugin Name	Powerlift
Type of Vulnerability	Local File Inclusion
CVE Number	CVE-2025-67940
Urgency	High
CVE Publish Date	2026-01-18
Source URL	CVE-2025-67940

Critical Local File Inclusion Vulnerability in Powerlift Theme (< 3.2.1) — Immediate Actions for Site Owners

Executive Summary:
A high-risk Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-67940 (CVSS 8.1) impacts the Powerlift WordPress theme versions prior to 3.2.1. This security flaw permits unauthenticated attackers to include and expose local files on your server, potentially disclosing sensitive data like wp-config.php, environment configuration files, or server logs. In certain configurations, this vulnerability could escalate to remote code execution via techniques such as log poisoning or abuse of PHP wrappers. Site operators running affected versions must prioritize patching or apply robust mitigation techniques including WAF defenses and tightened file access permissions immediately.

This post covers:

• Understanding Local File Inclusion and the specific risks posed by this Powerlift vulnerability
• Attack vectors and exploitation mechanics in WordPress environments
• Detection techniques and signs of compromise to monitor
• Hardening strategies, patching protocols, and WAF mitigation best practices
• Concise incident response checklist tailored for WordPress site owners
• Managed-WP’s approach to protecting your site from this and related threats

As cybersecurity professionals specializing in WordPress protection at Managed-WP, our objective is to deliver actionable guidance that empowers you to secure your site swiftly and decisively.

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Background: What You Need to Know About This Vulnerability

• Powerlift WordPress theme versions before 3.2.1 contain a Local File Inclusion vulnerability allowing unauthenticated actors to specify arbitrary file paths for inclusion.
• The vulnerability is officially tracked as CVE-2025-67940, with a high severity score of 8.1 (CVSS v3.1).
• Disclosure occurred in January 2026, highlighting the risk of credential leaks, configuration exposure, and in some setups, full remote code execution when combined with other exploits.

Why this matters: WordPress themes often implement file inclusion routines without sufficient validation. Attackers exploiting this can read sensitive files or execute malicious code within your site’s privilege context, leading to severe compromises.

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What Is Local File Inclusion (LFI)?

Local File Inclusion is a vulnerability where an attacker can trick an application into loading files from the server’s local filesystem. Common implications include:

• Exposure of sensitive data such as wp-config.php and environment files
• Information disclosure aiding further attacks through reconnaissance
• Potential path to Remote Code Execution by injecting malicious code into logs or exploiting PHP stream wrappers
• Leveraging writable directories to upload and include executable PHP files

Unlike Remote File Inclusion (RFI), LFI is limited to local files but still presents major risk since public web directories can often be manipulated.

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Exploitation Pathways for the Powerlift LFI

Typical attacker workflow involves:

1. Scanning: Identify sites running vulnerable Powerlift versions and detect the affected file include parameters.
2. Local File Retrieval: Use directory traversal sequences (../) to access sensitive files such as wp-config.php or system files like /etc/passwd.
3. Log Poisoning: Inject PHP code into server logs, then include those logs via LFI to gain Remote Code Execution.
4. Upload & Include: Upload malicious PHP files (if permitted by other vulnerabilities) and include via LFI for code execution.

With no authentication needed, these attacks can be launched remotely by anyone scanning or targeting your site.

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Potential Impact

• Confidentiality: Severe exposure of database credentials, API keys, salts, and other secrets.
• Integrity: Possible site defacement, insertion of backdoors, spam injection, or crypto-mining malware.
• Availability: Potential site disruptions, data destruction, or ransomware scenarios.
• Reputation & Compliance: Data breach risks triggering regulatory or customer trust issues.

Given the high CVSS score and remote, unauthenticated attack vector, mitigating this vulnerability urgently is critical.

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Indicators of Compromise You Should Watch For

Examine server logs and WAF alerts for:

• Requests containing directory traversal such as ../ or URL-encoded equivalents in suspect parameters (file=, page=, template=, etc.)
• URLs requesting sensitive files (e.g. wp-config.php, .env, or system files)
• Use of PHP stream wrappers in requests (php://, data://, expect://)
• Repeated or high-volume requests targeting the same endpoint with varying traversal strings
• Suspicious user-agent strings combined with traversal attempts
• Unexpected raw file content in HTTP responses (credentials, hostnames, keys)

Log search queries might include:

• GET /?include=../../wp-config.php
• GET /wp-content/themes/powerlift/includes/?page=../../../../etc/passwd

Do not attempt these requests on other websites. Use only for authorized log investigation.

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Recommended Detection and Monitoring Practices

1. Enable comprehensive access and error logging, storing copies in secure, isolated locations with proper rotation.
2. Scan logs for inclusion errors or warnings related to attempts to open inaccessible files.
3. Deploy file integrity monitoring on critical files and directories.
4. Configure your Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect traversal and targeted inclusion attempts.
5. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential weak points.

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WAF Mitigation: Rules to Implement

If immediate patching is not feasible, the fastest mitigation is applying virtual patches via WAF. Here are example ModSecurity/nginx rule snippets to defend against the Powerlift LFI:

# Block directory traversal attempts in inputs
SecRule ARGS|REQUEST_URI|REQUEST_LINE "@rx (\.\./|\%2e\%2e/|\%2e\%2e\%5c|\.\.\\)" \
    "id:100001,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'Directory traversal attempt blocked',severity:2"

# Block attempts to include sensitive files
SecRule ARGS|REQUEST_URI "@rx (wp-config\.php|\.env|/etc/passwd|/proc/self/environ)" \
    "id:100002,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'Sensitive file inclusion attempt',severity:2"

# Block PHP wrapper exploits in parameters
SecRule ARGS|REQUEST_URI "@rx (php\://|php\%3A%2F%2F|data\:|expect\:|input\:|filter\:)" \
    "id:100003,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'PHP wrapper usage blocked',severity:2"

# Specific rule targeting Powerlift theme endpoints
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-content/themes/powerlift/" \
    "chain,id:100004,phase:2,log,deny,status:403,msg:'Powerlift LFI mitigation'"
    SecRule ARGS:file|ARGS:include|ARGS:template "@rx (\.\./|\%2e\%2e/)"

Best practice: Enable these rules in detection/monitor mode first to minimize false positives. Gradually switch to full blocking after observing behavior.

If you have Managed-WP’s WAF service, we provide automated virtual patching tuned for this vulnerability to protect your site while you update.

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Additional Server Hardening Recommendations

1. Update Powerlift theme to 3.2.1 or later immediately to apply the official fix.
2. Remove or deactivate unused plugins and themes.
3. Harden PHP settings:
   • Set allow_url_include=Off
   • Disable allow_url_fopen if practical.
   • Restrict dangerous PHP wrappers usage.
4. Set strict file permissions, e.g., wp-config.php with 440 or 400 permissions.
5. Configure web server rules to deny direct access to sensitive files:

   location ~* wp-config.php {
       deny all;
   }
       

6. Prevent PHP execution in upload directories (e.g., /wp-content/uploads/).
7. Apply open_basedir restrictions where available.
8. Disable in-dashboard theme/plugin file editors using define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);.
9. Maintain frequent backups with verified restore procedures.

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Patching and Cleanup Checklist

1. Create off-site site and database backups before making changes.
2. Upgrade Powerlift to version 3.2.1 or newer.
3. Test site functionality thoroughly, especially if customizations exist.
4. Rotate all secrets if any sensitive data was potentially exposed.
5. Run comprehensive malware scans; clean or restore as necessary.
6. Review logs for suspicious activity dating back to disclosure.
7. Follow incident response steps if compromise is suspected (see below).

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Incident Response Quick Guide

1. Isolate: Place your site into maintenance mode or limit access.
2. Preserve evidence: Secure logs, system snapshots, and database dumps.
3. Block: Implement blocking rules for attacker IPs and signatures.
4. Rotate credentials: Change database passwords, API keys, and admin accounts credentials.
5. Clean up or restore from clean backups; remove any backdoors or injected malware.
6. Re-scan: Verify no remaining infections or vulnerabilities.
7. Communicate: Notify stakeholders promptly if required by compliance or contractual obligations.
8. Review: Analyze root cause and strengthen defenses to prevent recurrence.

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How Managed-WP Protects Your WordPress Site

At Managed-WP, we take a comprehensive and proactive approach combining prevention, detection, and response:

• Managed WAF with tailored virtual patches deploy targeted rules blocking LFI and other known vulnerabilities without modifying your site code.
• Continuously updated signature sets keeping ahead of emerging WordPress theme and plugin issues.
• Automated malware scanning for early detection of malicious files and changes.
• Real-time incident logging and alerting, enabling swift investigation and containment.
• Hands-on onboarding and expert remediation guidance to strengthen your site security posture.

Combining virtual patching with long-term fixes delivers the best protection.

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Example Detection Queries (Non-Exploit Use Only)

Effective log search patterns include:

• Scan for traversal strings:

  grep -E "(%2e%2e/|\.\./|\.\.\\)" access.log

• Lookup sensitive filename requests:

  grep -i "wp-config.php" access.log

• Check for PHP stream wrapper usage:

  grep -E "(php://|data:|expect:|filter:)" access.log

• Identify suspicious user-agent + traversal attempts:

  awk '/(%2e%2e/|\.\./)/ && /User-Agent/' access.log

Document full request details, IPs, timestamps, and returned status codes when suspicious entries are found.

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Best Practices to Secure WordPress Themes

• Utilize child themes for all customizations to preserve update paths.
• Keep business logic away from themes; place it in plugins for easier maintenance.
• Implement strict input validation on all user-supplied data, especially for file includes.
• Apply least privilege on database and file system permissions.
• Restrict admin interface access with IP whitelisting and strong multi-factor authentication.
• Test all theme and plugin updates in staging environments before production rollout.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I updated Powerlift to 3.2.1, do I still need a WAF?
A: Yes. Updating closes this vulnerability, but running a WAF helps detect and protect against unknown or future zero-days. Defense in depth is best.

Q: How should I update if I have customizations in the Powerlift theme?
A: Move all changes to a child theme or a custom plugin before upgrading the parent. Always back up and test before deploying.

Q: Does LFI always lead to remote code execution?
A: Not always. LFI primarily allows data exposure, but combined with other vulnerabilities or server setups, it can escalate to full code execution. Treat LFI as highly urgent.

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Getting Started with Managed-WP Automated Protection

We recommend protecting your site with managed firewall services while applying updates and patches. Managed-WP’s free Basic plan includes:

• Essential protection layers: managed WAF, unlimited bandwidth, real-time scanning, and mitigation of common threats.
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Our Standard and Pro plans offer more automation, malware removal, and detailed reporting.

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Immediate Action Checklist for Powerlift Users

1. Identify your Powerlift version; update immediately if older than 3.2.1.
2. If immediate update is unfeasible:
   • Enable maintenance mode if possible.
   • Apply WAF rules blocking directory traversal, PHP wrappers, and sensitive file inclusions.
   • Block or throttle scanning IP addresses.
   • Ensure hardening at PHP and file system levels (disabling allow_url_include, restricting permissions).
3. Examine access logs from the past three months for suspicious requests.
4. Rotate secrets if you suspect disclosures.
5. Enroll in managed WAF services for ongoing virtual patching.

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Concluding Remarks

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities continue to be a leading cause of severe WordPress site compromises because they open pathways to highly sensitive information disclosure and possibly full system takeover. The Powerlift LFI (CVE-2025-67940) serves as a critical example of why rigorous code validation, layered defenses, and rapid incident response matter.

If you require assistance with virtual patch deployment, forensic log analysis, or comprehensive remediation, Managed-WP offers hands-on managed WAF and security services tailored for WordPress environments. Start today with our free Basic plan to secure your site instantly while planning permanent fixes.

Be vigilant — act swiftly to patch, monitor, and defend.

— Managed-WP Security Team

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