Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-68984

High

Published: 30 December 2025

Published
30 December 2025
Modified
27 April 2026
KEV Added
—
Patch
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CVSS Score v3.1 7.5 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0011 28.8th percentile
Risk Priority 15 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-68984 is a high-severity PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 28.8th 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 RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-68984 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 (CWE-98), affecting the Puca WordPress theme developed by thembay. The issue impacts all versions of Puca up to and including 2.6.39. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (High), with vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating network accessibility but high attack complexity and a requirement for low privileges.

An attacker with low-privileged access, such as an authenticated WordPress user, can exploit this over the network by manipulating filename controls in PHP include/require statements. Successful exploitation allows high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability violations, potentially enabling local file disclosure or inclusion that could lead to further compromise depending on server configuration.

The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/puca/vulnerability/wordpress-puca-theme-2-6-39-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides details on the vulnerability in the Puca theme version 2.6.39, including recommended mitigations such as updating to a patched version where available.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in thembay Puca puca allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Puca: from n/a through <= 2.6.39.

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 →
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

LFI in public-facing WordPress theme enables public-facing app exploitation (T1190), reading local files for data collection (T1005), and accessing credentials in files like wp-config.php (T1552.001).

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

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-32400Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22371Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-28059Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-60066Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-60042Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-60056Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-62010Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22495Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-25382Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69049Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Requires timely identification, reporting, and patching of flaws like the PHP local file inclusion vulnerability in the Puca WordPress theme up to version 2.6.39.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Mandates validation of filenames supplied to PHP include/require statements, directly preventing manipulation leading to local file inclusion.

RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning good match
detect

Vulnerability scanning detects PHP remote/local file inclusion issues in components like the Puca theme, enabling proactive remediation.

References