CVE-2025-53448
Published: 18 December 2025
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 27.9th 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the PHP local file inclusion vulnerability by identifying, reporting, and applying patches or updates to the vulnerable Rally WordPress theme.
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.
Identifies the CVE-2025-53448 vulnerability through periodic vulnerability scanning of WordPress themes, enabling proactive remediation before exploitation.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
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.
NVD Description
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.
Deeper analysisAI
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.
Details
- CWE(s)