Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-28128

High

Published: 05 March 2026

Published
05 March 2026
Modified
22 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 0.0034 25.4th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-28128 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 25.4th 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-2026-28128 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement vulnerability in PHP programs, classified as a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) issue, affecting the ThemeREX Verse WordPress theme. The vulnerability impacts Verse versions from an unspecified initial release through 1.7.0 and is associated with CWE-98. 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), indicating high severity due to network accessibility despite high attack complexity.

Unauthenticated remote attackers (PR:N) can exploit this vulnerability over the network (AV:N) without requiring user interaction (UI:N). Successful exploitation enables high-impact outcomes across confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), such as unauthorized access to local files, potential modification or execution of code, and disruption of services within the scope of the affected theme (S:U).

Mitigation details are available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/verse/vulnerability/wordpress-verse-theme-1-7-0-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 Verse verse allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Verse: from n/a through <= 1.7.0.

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 →
Why these techniques?

The vulnerability is a remote file inclusion flaw in a public-facing WordPress theme, directly enabling exploitation of a public-facing application for high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability effects.

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

CVEs Like This One

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CVE-2026-28024Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-67525Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-22707Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-69375Shared CWE-98
CVE-2026-22443Shared CWE-98
CVE-2025-53198Shared CWE-98

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Requires validation of user-supplied filenames prior to use in PHP include/require statements, directly preventing the LFI vulnerability in the Verse theme.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Mandates timely patching of the specific LFI flaw in Verse theme versions through 1.7.0 to eliminate exploitability.

RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning partial match
detect

Automated vulnerability scanning identifies the PHP LFI vulnerability in the Verse WordPress theme, enabling proactive remediation.

References