Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-54003

High

Published: 22 January 2026

Published
22 January 2026
Modified
27 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 0.0050 39.1th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-54003 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 39.1th 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-2025-54003 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, that enables PHP Local File Inclusion (CWE-98) in the Mikado-Themes Depot WordPress theme. This issue affects Depot versions from n/a through 1.16. The vulnerability 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), indicating high severity due to its potential for significant impact.

Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network without requiring user interaction, though it involves high attack complexity. Successful exploitation allows high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, typically through local file inclusion that may enable attackers to read sensitive files or, in certain configurations, execute arbitrary code on the server.

The Patchstack advisory documents this as a Local File Inclusion vulnerability specifically in the WordPress Depot theme up to version 1.16.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A05:2025 Injection

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Mikado-Themes Depot depot allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Depot: from n/a through <= 1.16.

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?

LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme enables T1190 (exploit public-facing application) for remote unauthenticated access and T1005 (data from local system) by allowing reading of sensitive local files.

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

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-60057Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-58940Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22476Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-67980Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69034Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-58225Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22427Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69402Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-64205Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-28013Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly remediates the improper filename control flaw in the PHP include/require statement by applying patches to vulnerable Mikado-Themes Depot versions up to 1.16.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Validates filename inputs to PHP include/require statements, preventing path traversal attacks that enable local file inclusion.

SI-9 Information Input Restrictions good match
prevent

Enforces restrictions on filename inputs to block invalid or malicious paths from being processed in the vulnerable WordPress theme's PHP code.

References