CVE-2025-69398

High

Published: 20 February 2026

Published

20 February 2026

Modified

15 April 2026

KEV Added

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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-2025-69398 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-2025-69398 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 ThemeREX Plank WordPress theme. This issue affects Plank versions from n/a through 1.7 and is linked to CWE-98. Published on 2026-02-20, it 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).

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this over the network, though it requires high attack complexity and no user interaction or privileges. Successful exploitation allows high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, enabling inclusion of arbitrary local PHP files on the server.

The Patchstack advisory provides details on this WordPress Plank theme vulnerability, including mitigation guidance, at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/plank/vulnerability/wordpress-plank-theme-1-7-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-207973

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in ThemeREX Plank plank allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Plank: from n/a through <= 1.7.

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 →

T1083 File and Directory Discovery Discovery

Adversaries may enumerate files and directories or may search in specific locations of a host or network share for certain information within a file system.

attack.mitre.org →

Why these techniques?

LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme enables T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) for initial access and facilitates T1005 (Data from Local System) and T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) via arbitrary local file reads.

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