CVE-2025-53207
Published: 20 August 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-53207 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-2025-53207 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, described as a PHP Remote File Inclusion issue that enables PHP Local File Inclusion, affecting the WP Travel Gutenberg Blocks plugin (wp-travel-blocks) for WordPress. This flaw impacts all versions from n/a through 3.9.0 inclusive. Published on 2025-08-20, it carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and is associated with CWE-98.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network, though it requires high attack complexity and no user interaction. Successful exploitation allows local file inclusion, granting high-impact access to sensitive data (confidentiality), modification of system files or behavior (integrity), and potential denial of service (availability).
The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/wp-travel-blocks/vulnerability/wordpress-wp-travel-gutenberg-blocks-3-9-0-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides further details on this vulnerability, including mitigation guidance.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-28497
Vulnerability details
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in WP Travel WP Travel Gutenberg Blocks wp-travel-blocks allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects WP Travel Gutenberg Blocks: from n/a through <= 3.9.0.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Direct remote exploitation of a public-facing WordPress plugin via LFI/RFI (CWE-98) matches T1190 as the primary initial access vector.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Information input validation directly prevents exploitation by enforcing strict validation and sanitization of user-supplied filenames used in PHP include/require statements, addressing the core improper control flaw in this LFI vulnerability.
Flaw remediation mandates timely patching or removal of the vulnerable WP Travel Gutenberg Blocks plugin versions through 3.9.0, eliminating the specific CVE exposure.
Configuration settings secure PHP environments by restricting file access paths (e.g., open_basedir, disable_functions for include), limiting the scope of local file inclusion even if inputs are malformed.