CVE-2025-53431
Published: 18 December 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-53431 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 35.2th 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).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-53431 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement vulnerability in PHP programs, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion (CWE-98), affecting the AncoraThemes Emberlyn WordPress theme. The issue impacts Emberlyn versions from n/a through 1.3.1, as published on 2025-12-18.
A remote, unauthenticated attacker (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U) can exploit this vulnerability over the network with high attack complexity and no user interaction required. Successful exploitation yields high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), with an overall CVSS 3.1 score of 8.1.
Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory for the WordPress Emberlyn theme 1.3.1 Local File Inclusion vulnerability at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/emberlyn/vulnerability/wordpress-emberlyn-theme-1-3-1-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-204219
Vulnerability details
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in AncoraThemes Emberlyn emberlyn allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Emberlyn: from n/a through <= 1.3.1.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is a remote file inclusion flaw in a public-facing WordPress theme, directly enabling exploitation of public-facing applications.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly addresses the CVE by requiring timely identification, reporting, and correction of the specific LFI flaw in Emberlyn theme versions through 1.3.1.
Prevents exploitation of the improper filename control in PHP include/require by enforcing validation and sanitization of user-supplied inputs to block local file inclusion.
Mitigates LFI impacts through secure configuration settings like PHP open_basedir restrictions to limit accessible file paths even with vulnerable code.