Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-23952

High

Published: 26 March 2025

Published
26 March 2025
Modified
23 April 2026
KEV Added
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Patch
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CVSS Score v3.1 8.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0066 71.6th percentile
Risk Priority 17 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-23952 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 in the top 28.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; 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).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-23952 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, classified as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion (CWE-98). It affects the WordPress plugin custom-field-list-widget, with all versions from n/a through 1.5.1 vulnerable. The issue was published on 2025-03-26 and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity due to network accessibility and significant impacts.

Remote attackers without privileges can exploit this vulnerability over the network, requiring no user interaction but high attack complexity. Successful exploitation allows high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially enabling attackers to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files.

Patchstack provides details on mitigation in its advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/custom-field-list-widget/vulnerability/wordpress-custom-field-list-widget-plugin-1-5-1-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in ntm custom-field-list-widget custom-field-list-widget allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects custom-field-list-widget: from n/a through <= 1.5.1.

CWE(s)
CWE-98

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

The CVE describes a local file inclusion vulnerability in a public-facing WordPress plugin allowing remote unauthenticated attackers to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files, directly enabling exploitation of public-facing applications for remote code execution.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

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CVE-2025-67527Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69396Shared CWE-98
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CVE-2025-27015Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

SI-2 requires timely identification, reporting, and correction of flaws like the PHP local file inclusion vulnerability in the custom-field-list-widget plugin.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

SI-10 mandates validation of information inputs to prevent malicious filenames from being processed by PHP include/require statements, directly countering the file inclusion exploit.

RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning partial match
detect

RA-5 enables vulnerability scanning to identify the presence of CVE-2025-23952 in deployed WordPress plugins for subsequent remediation.

References