CVE-2025-26909
Wpplugins Hide My Wp Ghost ≤ 5.4.02
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2025-26909 is a critical-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability in Wpplugins Hide My Wp Ghost. Its CVSS base score is 9.6 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 49th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2025-26909 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, in the Hide My WP Ghost WordPress plugin developed by John Darrel. This issue affects all versions of the plugin from n/a through 5.4.01. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.6 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H) and is associated with CWE-98.
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit the vulnerability over the network with low attack complexity, though it requires user interaction. Exploitation allows attackers to achieve high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability with a changed scope, potentially leading to remote code execution via the local file inclusion path.
The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/hide-my-wp/vulnerability/wordpress-hide-my-wp-ghost-plugin-5-4-01-local-file-inclusion-to-rce-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides details on the vulnerability, including mitigation recommendations.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-14845
Vulnerability Data
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in John Darrel Hide My WP Ghost hide-my-wp allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Hide My WP Ghost: from n/a through <= 5.4.01.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Developer testing and static analysis can discover missing filename restrictions before deployment.
Validating all inputs before they reach include/require statements directly stops untrusted filenames from being used.
Enforcing access authorizations on resources limits what an included file can reach even if a bad name is supplied.
Information-flow rules can block the loading of external or unauthorized files into the PHP process.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure SDLC practices such as input validation and allow-listing of include paths directly prevent the weakness.
Hardened runtime configuration (e.g., allow_url_include=off) directly blocks RFI even if code is flawed.
Execution restrictions can prevent the remote payload from running, while eliminating the weakness reduces the need for such controls.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing can detect RFI but does not prevent the weakness by itself.
Secure development lifecycle mandates input validation and safe include/require patterns that directly prevent remote file inclusion.
Application security requirements explicitly call for controls against injection and unsafe file operations.
Secure architecture principles reduce attack surface but do not specifically address dynamic file inclusion.
Secure coding standards directly require whitelisting and sanitization of filenames used in include/require statements.