CVE-2025-49994
Published: 22 January 2026
Summary
CVE-2025-49994 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 38.1th 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Flaw remediation directly mitigates CVE-2025-49994 by patching or updating the vulnerable Athens WordPress theme to eliminate the improper filename control in PHP include/require statements.
Information input validation enforces proper checking of filenames supplied to PHP include/require functions, preventing local file inclusion attacks exploiting this vulnerability.
Secure configuration settings for PHP, such as open_basedir restrictions, limit the scope of accessible files even if malicious filenames bypass application logic in the Athens theme.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is a critical unauthenticated remote file inclusion (LFI/RFI) in a public-facing WordPress theme, directly enabling exploitation of a public-facing application for initial access, code execution, or file disclosure.
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in ovatheme Athens athens allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Athens: from n/a through <= 1.1.6.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-49994 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, which allows PHP Local File Inclusion in the Athens WordPress theme developed by ovatheme. This issue affects all versions of the Athens theme from n/a through 1.1.6 and is associated with CWE-98. The vulnerability was published on 2026-01-22T17:15:56.527 and 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).
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network, though it requires high attack complexity and no user interaction. Successful exploitation enables high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability violations, potentially allowing attackers to include and execute local PHP files on the server.
Advisories, including the Patchstack database entry at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/athens/vulnerability/wordpress-athens-theme-1-1-6-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve, provide details on the vulnerability in the WordPress Athens theme version 1.1.6. Security practitioners should consult these resources for recommended patches and mitigation steps.
Details
- CWE(s)