CVE-2026-28068
Published: 05 March 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-28068 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
Directly remediates the PHP Local File Inclusion flaw in the Rhythmo theme by applying vendor patches or updates as specified in the Patchstack advisory.
Validates and sanitizes untrusted inputs used in PHP include/require statements to block malicious filenames enabling LFI exploitation.
Establishes secure baseline PHP configuration settings like open_basedir and disabling allow_url_include to restrict file inclusion capabilities.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
LFI vulnerability in public-facing WordPress theme enables exploitation of public-facing application (T1190) and facilitates access to credentials in local files like configuration files (T1552.001).
NVD Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in ThemeREX Rhythmo rhythmo allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Rhythmo: from n/a through <= 1.3.4.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2026-28068 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, that allows PHP Local File Inclusion in the ThemeREX Rhythmo WordPress theme. This issue affects Rhythmo versions from n/a through 1.3.4 and is associated with CWE-98. The vulnerability was published on 2026-03-05 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).
Unauthenticated remote attackers (PR:N) can exploit this vulnerability over the network (AV:N) without user interaction (UI:N), though it requires high attack complexity (AC:H). Successful exploitation enables high-impact consequences on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), potentially allowing attackers to include and execute local files on the server.
Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/rhythmo/vulnerability/wordpress-rhythmo-theme-1-3-4-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.
Details
- CWE(s)