Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-22521

High

Published: 08 January 2026

Published
08 January 2026
Modified
23 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 0.0012 30.2th percentile
Risk Priority 15 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2026-22521 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 30.2th 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 CM-11 (User-installed Software) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2026-22521 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 G5Theme Handmade Framework (handmade-framework). This WordPress plugin is affected in all versions from n/a through 3.9 and is associated with CWE-98.

The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (High), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and unchanged scope (S:U). Low-privileged authenticated attackers can exploit it remotely to achieve high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), such as reading local files or potentially escalating to code execution depending on server configuration.

The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/handmade-framework/vulnerability/wordpress-handmade-framework-plugin-3-9-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve details this as a Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the Handmade Framework WordPress plugin up to version 3.9, with mitigation guidance available in the database entry.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in G5Theme Handmade Framework handmade-framework allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Handmade Framework: from n/a through <= 3.9.

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 →
Why these techniques?

LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress plugin directly enables remote exploitation of web application for file access and potential code execution.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v18.1

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-28087Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-23952Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-32505Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-48149Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-60058Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-49994Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-24531Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-67527Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69396Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-62067Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Requires timely remediation of the specific LFI flaw in Handmade Framework versions through <=3.9 via patching, upgrades, or removal.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Directly counters the improper control of filenames in PHP include/require statements by mandating validation of user-supplied inputs to block LFI paths.

CM-11 User-installed Software good match
prevent

Prohibits or controls installation of user-installed software like the vulnerable Handmade Framework WordPress plugin unless explicitly approved and vetted.

References