CVE-2025-49359
Published: 18 December 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-49359 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 39.7th 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-2025-49359 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement vulnerability, classified as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion (CWE-98), in the ShieldGroup WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. This flaw affects ShieldGroup versions from n/a through 2.13 inclusive.
The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers over the network (AV:N) with no required privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), though it demands high attack complexity (AC:H). Successful exploitation results in high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1, potentially allowing attackers to include and execute local PHP files on the server.
Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/shieldgroup/vulnerability/wordpress-shieldgroup-theme-2-13-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve. The vulnerability was published on 2025-12-18.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-204244
Vulnerability details
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in AncoraThemes ShieldGroup shieldgroup allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects ShieldGroup: from n/a through <= 2.13.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is an LFI in a public-facing WordPress theme, exploitable remotely without privileges to include and execute local PHP files, directly enabling T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly mitigates CVE-2025-49359 by requiring timely patching or updating of the vulnerable ShieldGroup WordPress theme versions through 2.13.
Prevents exploitation of the PHP Local File Inclusion by validating and sanitizing user-supplied filenames used in include/require statements.
Enforces secure PHP configuration settings like open_basedir or disable_functions to restrict file access and limit the scope of local file inclusion attacks.