Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-53434

High

Published: 18 December 2025

Published
18 December 2025
Modified
15 April 2026
KEV Added
—
Patch
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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 0.0042 32.9th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-53434 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 32.9th 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 RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-53434 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, described as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion, affecting the ChildHope WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. The issue impacts ChildHope versions from n/a through 1.1.8 and is associated with CWE-98. Published on 2025-12-18, 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).

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). Successful exploitation allows high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), potentially enabling attackers to include and execute local PHP files on the server.

The Patchstack advisory (https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/childhope/vulnerability/wordpress-childhope-theme-1-1-8-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve) documents the local file inclusion vulnerability in the ChildHope WordPress theme up to version 1.1.8.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in AncoraThemes ChildHope childhope allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects ChildHope: from n/a through <= 1.1.8.

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?

CVE-2025-53434 is a Local File Inclusion vulnerability in a WordPress theme, enabling unauthenticated remote exploitation of a public-facing web application.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-60043Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22414Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69396Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22372Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-67523Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-27342Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22496Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-49426Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-49369Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-28023Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly mitigates this CVE by requiring timely flaw remediation through patching the vulnerable ChildHope WordPress theme versions up to 1.1.8.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Prevents exploitation of the improper filename control in PHP include/require by validating user-supplied inputs for file paths before processing.

RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning good match
detectrespond

Identifies the LFI vulnerability in ChildHope via vulnerability scanning and triggers remediation to address the specific CVE.

References