Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-22324

High

Published: 20 March 2026

Published
20 March 2026
Modified
23 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 0.0047 36.8th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-22324 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 36.8th 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).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2026-22324 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). It affects the ThemeREX Melania WordPress theme in versions from n/a through 2.5.0.

The vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers (PR:N) over the network (AV:N) with high attack complexity (AC:H) and no user interaction required (UI:N). Successful exploitation grants high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), yielding a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1, potentially allowing attackers to include and execute local files on the server.

The Patchstack advisory provides further details on this Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the WordPress Melania theme version 2.5.0: https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/melania/vulnerability/wordpress-melania-theme-2-5-0-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 ThemeREX Melania melania allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Melania: from n/a through <= 2.5.0.

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?

Public-facing WordPress theme vulnerability exploitable remotely without authentication (T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application). Enables local file inclusion for arbitrary local file execution and disclosure (T1005: Data from Local System).

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-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly remediates the PHP Local File Inclusion flaw in the Melania WordPress theme by identifying, prioritizing, and applying patches or mitigations for this specific CVE.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Validates and sanitizes untrusted inputs used in PHP include/require statements to block malicious local file paths and directory traversal attempts.

CM-6 Configuration Settings partial match
prevent

Establishes secure PHP configuration settings such as open_basedir restrictions and disabling allow_url_include to limit file access and mitigate LFI exploitation.

References