Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-53447

High

Published: 18 December 2025

Published
18 December 2025
Modified
20 January 2026
KEV Added
—
Patch
—
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 0.0044 35.2th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-53447 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability in Axiomthemes Assembly. 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-2025-53447 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, classified under CWE-98 and labeled as a PHP Remote File Inclusion issue that enables PHP Local File Inclusion. It affects the Assembly WordPress theme developed by axiomthemes, impacting all versions from n/a through 1.1 inclusive. The vulnerability was published on 2025-12-18 with 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).

An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability over the network, though it requires high attack complexity and no user interaction. Successful exploitation grants high-impact access to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing the inclusion of arbitrary local files on the affected server.

Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/assembly/vulnerability/wordpress-assembly-theme-1-1-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in axiomthemes Assembly assembly allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Assembly: from n/a through <= 1.1.

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 →
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

Remote LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme enables exploitation of public-facing application (T1190) and arbitrary local file access (T1005).

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

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-58940Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58936Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58709Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58225Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-60048Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58944Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58949Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58929Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-53439Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58934Same vendor: Axiomthemes

Affected Assets

axiomthemes
assembly
≤ 1.1

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly mitigates CVE-2025-53447 by requiring timely remediation and patching of the vulnerable Assembly WordPress theme versions <=1.1.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Prevents exploitation of the PHP Local File Inclusion vulnerability by validating filename inputs used in include/require statements against malicious local paths.

CM-6 Configuration Settings partial match
prevent

Mitigates the vulnerability through secure PHP and web server configuration settings, such as open_basedir restrictions to limit accessible file paths.

References