CVE-2025-22509
Published: 08 January 2026
Summary
CVE-2025-22509 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 20.3th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the PHP Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the Atlas WordPress theme by requiring identification, testing, and installation of patches or updates beyond version 2.1.0.
Validates filenames and paths used in PHP include/require statements to prevent attackers from supplying malicious inputs that enable local file inclusion.
Enforces secure PHP configuration settings like open_basedir restrictions and disabling allow_url_include to limit the scope and impact of local file inclusion exploits.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
LFI in public-facing WordPress theme enables unauthenticated remote exploitation (T1190) and arbitrary local file reads for sensitive data disclosure (T1005).
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in TMRW-studio Atlas atlas allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Atlas: from n/a through <= 2.1.0.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-22509 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, that enables PHP Local File Inclusion in the TMRW-studio Atlas WordPress theme. This flaw, tied to CWE-98, affects Atlas versions from n/a through 2.1.0 and was published on 2026-01-08.
The vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers (PR:N) over the network (AV:N) without requiring user interaction (UI:N), though it demands high attack complexity (AC:H) and results in unchanged scope (S:U). Successful exploitation yields high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), earning a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 and potentially allowing attackers to read or include arbitrary local files, leading to information disclosure or code execution.
Patchstack's advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/atlas/vulnerability/wordpress-atlas-theme-2-1-0-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides details on this Local File Inclusion issue in the WordPress Atlas theme version 2.1.0, including mitigation guidance for affected deployments.
Details
- CWE(s)