Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-69074

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 0.0051 39.6th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-69074 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 39.6th 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-2025-69074 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, which allows PHP Local File Inclusion in the Pearson Specter WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. This issue affects Pearson Specter versions from n/a through 1.11.3 and is associated with CWE-98. The vulnerability was published on 2026-01-22 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).

A remote network-based attacker without privileges or user interaction can exploit this vulnerability, though it requires high attack complexity. Successful exploitation enables high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability violations, potentially allowing the attacker to include and access local files on the server, leading to unauthorized data disclosure, modification, or service disruption.

The Patchstack advisory documents this Local File Inclusion vulnerability specifically in WordPress Pearson Specter theme version 1.11.3 and provides further details at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/pearsonspecter/vulnerability/wordpress-pearson-specter-theme-1-11-3-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 AncoraThemes Pearson Specter pearsonspecter allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Pearson Specter: from n/a through <= 1.11.3.

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 vuln in public-facing WordPress theme directly enables remote exploitation of web app (T1190) and arbitrary local file reads (T1005).

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-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Directly mitigates the improper filename control in PHP include/require by requiring validation and sanitization of inputs to block local file inclusion.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Requires timely flaw remediation, such as patching or updating the vulnerable Pearson Specter WordPress theme beyond version 1.11.3.

SI-9 Information Input Restrictions good match
prevent

Enforces restrictions on file path inputs to only authorized values, preventing attackers from directing includes to unauthorized local files.

References