CVE-2026-22449
Published: 05 March 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-22449 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 38.1th 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Requires validation of untrusted inputs used in PHP include/require statements to prevent arbitrary local file inclusion in the Don Peppe WordPress theme.
Mandates timely patching or removal of the vulnerable Don Peppe theme versions through <=1.3 to eliminate the PHP Local File Inclusion flaw.
Enforces PHP configuration settings like open_basedir restrictions to limit file access paths exploitable by the improper filename control vulnerability.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
The vulnerability is a remote local file inclusion in a public-facing WordPress theme, directly enabling exploitation of public-facing applications (T1190).
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Select-Themes Don Peppe donpeppe allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Don Peppe: from n/a through <= 1.3.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2026-22449 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, affecting the Don Peppe WordPress theme developed by Select-Themes. This issue impacts all versions of the theme from n/a through 1.3 inclusive. Published on 2026-03-05, it is associated with CWE-98 and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1.
The vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers over the network (AV:N), requiring high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N), with unchanged scope (S:U). Successful exploitation leads to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), potentially allowing attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files on the server.
Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/donpeppe/vulnerability/wordpress-don-peppe-theme-1-3-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.
Details
- CWE(s)