CVE-2025-26909
Published: 27 March 2025
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 42.1th 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).
Deeper analysis
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.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-14845
Vulnerability details
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 TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is an LFI in a public-facing WordPress plugin that enables RCE, directly mapping to T1190 for initial access via public app exploitation and T1059.004 for Unix shell command execution post-RCE.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Timely flaw remediation through patching the vulnerable Hide My WP Ghost WordPress plugin directly eliminates the PHP local file inclusion vulnerability.
Information input validation enforces proper checking of filenames used in PHP include/require statements, preventing malicious local file inclusion by remote attackers.
Boundary protection via web application firewalls or similar controls can block or detect network-based exploitation attempts targeting the file inclusion vulnerability.