Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-67616

High

Published: 22 January 2026

Published
22 January 2026
Modified
15 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 0.0054 41.2th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-67616 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 41.2th 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 RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-67616 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 BZOTheme Mella WordPress theme. This issue affects Mella versions from n/a through 1.2.29, as documented under CWE-98. 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) and was published on 2026-01-22.

The vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers with network access, requiring no user interaction but high attack complexity. Successful exploitation allows high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially enabling attackers to include and execute local PHP files on the server.

Patchstack provides details on this Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the Mella WordPress theme version 1.2.29 via its advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/mella/vulnerability/wordpress-mella-theme-1-2-29-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

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 BZOTheme Mella mella allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Mella: from n/a through <= 1.2.29.

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?

The vulnerability is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) in a public-facing WordPress theme, directly enabling exploitation of a public-facing application.

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

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-58923Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69057Shared CWE-98
CVE-2024-54263Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-28035Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-28024Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-67525Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-22707Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69375Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22443Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-53198Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly eliminates the vulnerability by requiring identification, reporting, and patching of the improper filename control flaw in Mella theme versions <=1.2.29.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Prevents exploitation of the PHP local file inclusion by validating and sanitizing untrusted filename inputs to include/require statements.

RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning good match
detectrespond

Detects the specific CVE-2025-67616 vulnerability through vulnerability scanning of the WordPress theme, enabling timely remediation.

References