WordPress Javo Spot Premium Theme Local File Inclusion (LFI) Scanner

The WordPress Javo Spot Premium Theme is a popular theme used for creating directory listings and localized websites. It is often employed by businesses and individuals seeking to create comprehensive geo-location based directory listings. The theme is lauded for its customizable features which include advanced search options, map integrations, and various listing categories. Given its robust and flexible nature, the theme is used by a large user base that requires dynamic and functional website infrastructure. This theme may be deployed by web developers, designers, and business owners looking to establish a significant online presence. Users value the theme for its ability to integrate third-party plugins and its responsive design that is suitable for all devices.

Directory Traversal is a type of vulnerability that allows an attacker to read arbitrary files on the server. This vulnerability occurs when the application's security mechanisms fail to properly clean user inputs, leading to unauthorized access to the file system. The exploitation of such a weakness can provide a threat actor with sensitive information, such as configuration files or credential lists. In the context of web applications, directory traversal might lead to a leakage of critical environmental details. Attackers often look to exploit this vulnerability in applications to gather intelligence for additional attacks or to directly compromise data. Addressing directory traversal vulnerabilities involves correct input validation and access control mechanisms.

Technical details reveal that the vulnerable endpoint in this template is accessible through a specific AJAX function in the WordPress Javo Spot Premium Theme. The function `jvfrm_spot_get_json` can be manipulated through the `admin-ajax.php` script to read sensitive files like `wp-config.php`. This exploit depends on remote access, supported by the fact that certain parameters are unsanitized, allowing traversal paths such as `../../wp-config.php`. Successful exploitation hinges on the attacker's ability to execute the crafted GET request. The vulnerability also relates to how the theme handles file callbacks, evident from the misuse of file paths in its execution logic. Mitigation would generally involve patching and reviewing the AJAX function implementations.

If exploited, the directory traversal vulnerability in the WordPress Javo Spot Premium Theme can have several severe consequences. An attacker might gain access to sensitive data stored in configuration files, potentially revealing database names, passwords, and other critical information. This exposure could compromise the entire application, allowing for further attacks such as privilege escalation or data manipulation. Continuous exposure of sensitive files increases the risk of them being used maliciously, either by selling the information or by direct sabotage. Furthermore, unauthorized access to server-side files may lead attackers to identify and exploit other vulnerabilities within the web application. Such incidents necessitate immediate remediation to prevent broader security breaches across affected systems.

REFERENCES

• https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/2d465fc4-d4fa-43bb-9c0d-71dcc3ee4eab
• https://codeseekah.com/2017/02/09/javo-themes-spot-lfi-vulnerability/