CVE-2025-58928
Published: 18 December 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-58928 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability in Axiomthemes Heart. 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 43.8th 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the improper filename control in PHP include/require statements in the Heart theme by applying vendor patches or updates to versions beyond 1.8.
Requires validation and sanitization of inputs controlling filenames in PHP include/require to block path traversal and local file inclusion exploits.
Enforces secure PHP and WordPress configuration settings like open_basedir restrictions and disabled remote file includes to limit LFI impact in vulnerable themes.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is a remotely exploitable Local File Inclusion (LFI) flaw in a public-facing WordPress theme, directly enabling exploitation of public-facing web applications.
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in axiomthemes Heart heart allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Heart: from n/a through <= 1.8.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-58928 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, classified as PHP Remote File Inclusion but enabling PHP Local File Inclusion, in the axiomthemes Heart WordPress theme. This issue affects Heart versions from n/a through 1.8, as documented with CWE-98 and 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 attackers require no privileges or user interaction to exploit this over the network, though high attack complexity is needed. Successful exploitation grants high-impact access to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing local file inclusion that could lead to sensitive data exposure, arbitrary code execution, or system compromise on affected WordPress installations running the vulnerable theme.
Patchstack advisories detail the local file inclusion vulnerability in the WordPress Heart theme up to version 1.8, available at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/heart/vulnerability/wordpress-heart-theme-1-8-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.
Details
- CWE(s)