Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-53448

High

Published: 18 December 2025

Published
18 December 2025
Modified
20 January 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-2025-53448 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability in Axiomthemes Rally. 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-2025-53448 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, referred to as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion, in the Rally WordPress theme developed by axiomthemes. The issue affects Rally versions from n/a through 1.1 and is associated with CWE-98. It 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).

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network without user interaction, though it requires high attack complexity. Successful exploitation grants high-impact access to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially allowing attackers to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files on the server.

The Patchstack advisory provides details on this WordPress Rally theme vulnerability, including mitigation guidance, available at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/rally/vulnerability/wordpress-rally-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 Rally rally allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Rally: 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 →
Why these techniques?

CVE-2025-53448 is an unauthenticated remote Local File Inclusion vulnerability in a public-facing WordPress theme, enabling arbitrary PHP file execution, directly mapping to T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application.

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

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-58935Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-60061Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-60063Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58889Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-53449Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58950Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-53446Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-60064Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-53445Same vendor: Axiomthemes
CVE-2025-58928Same vendor: Axiomthemes

Affected Assets

axiomthemes
rally
≤ 1.1

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly remediates the PHP local file inclusion vulnerability by identifying, reporting, and applying patches or updates to the vulnerable Rally WordPress theme.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Prevents exploitation of improper filename control in PHP include/require by validating user-supplied inputs against safe paths and whitelists to block arbitrary local file inclusion.

RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning good match
detect

Identifies the CVE-2025-53448 vulnerability through periodic vulnerability scanning of WordPress themes, enabling proactive remediation before exploitation.

References