CVE-2025-49436
Published: 20 August 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-49436 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 36.2th 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the PHP Local File Inclusion flaw in the Anotte WordPress theme by identifying, patching, and updating vulnerable versions <=1.8.
Enforces validation of filename inputs to PHP include/require statements, preventing path traversal and arbitrary local file inclusion by remote attackers.
Deploys boundary protections like web application firewalls to monitor and block network requests exploiting the improper filename control vulnerability.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme directly enables remote exploitation of the application (T1190) and arbitrary code execution via PHP file inclusion, facilitating web shell deployment (T1505.003).
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in CocoBasic Anotte anotte-wp allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Anotte: from n/a through <= 1.8.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-49436 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, referred to as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion (CWE-98), in the CocoBasic Anotte WordPress theme (anotte-wp). This issue affects Anotte versions from n/a through <=1.8. The vulnerability 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 on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Remote unauthenticated attackers (PR:N) can exploit this vulnerability over the network (AV:N) without requiring user interaction (UI:N), though it demands high attack complexity (AC:H) and does not change scope (S:U). Successful exploitation enables high-impact outcomes (C:H/I:H/A:H), such as including arbitrary local files via PHP's include/require statements, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure, arbitrary code execution, or system compromise on affected WordPress installations running the vulnerable theme.
Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory for the Anotte WordPress theme at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/anotte-wp/vulnerability/wordpress-anotte-theme-1-8-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve. The vulnerability was published on 2025-08-20.
Details
- CWE(s)