Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-49426

High

Published: 20 August 2025

Published
20 August 2025
Modified
23 April 2026
KEV Added
—
Patch
—
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 0.0016 36.4th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-49426 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 36.4th 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-2025-49426 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, classified as a PHP Remote File Inclusion issue that enables PHP Local File Inclusion (CWE-98), affecting the Dahz Kitring (kitring) WordPress theme in all versions up to and including 2.8. Published on 2025-08-20, it 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 its potential for significant impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network, requiring no privileges or user interaction but involving high attack complexity. Successful exploitation allows PHP Local File Inclusion, enabling attackers to include and potentially execute arbitrary local files on the server.

The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/kitring/vulnerability/wordpress-kitring-theme-2-8-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides details on this Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the Kitring WordPress theme version 2.8; practitioners should review it for recommended mitigations, such as updating to a version beyond 2.8.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Dahz Kitring kitring allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Kitring: from n/a through <= 2.8.

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?

LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme directly enables remote exploitation of web application for arbitrary file inclusion/execution.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v18.1

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-28087Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-23952Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-32505Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-48149Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-60058Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-49994Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-24531Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-67527Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69396Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-62067Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly remediates the PHP Local File Inclusion vulnerability by requiring timely patching or upgrading of the vulnerable Dahz Kitring WordPress theme beyond version 2.8.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Prevents exploitation of improper filename control in PHP include/require statements by validating and sanitizing all user inputs used for local file inclusion.

CM-6 Configuration Settings partial match
prevent

Mitigates LFI impact through secure PHP configuration settings like open_basedir restrictions that limit accessible file paths on the server.

References