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ThemeMove Billey CVE-2025-59558

HIGH
PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98)
2025-10-22 audit@patchstack.com
8.1
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: patchstack
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Reach vulnerable Billey theme endpoint
  2. Delivery
    Supply crafted filename/path parameter
  3. Exploit
    Trigger PHP include of local file
  4. Execution
    Disclose sensitive files or execute PHP
  5. Impact
    Compromise WordPress site

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File inclusion prevention, allowlisting
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Command and Control

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Requires the ThemeMove Billey WordPress theme at a version from initial release through any version below 2.1.6 to be installed and active. Exploitation targets a theme code path that passes attacker-influenced input into a PHP include/require statement; the CVSS AC:H indicates a non-trivial precondition (such as a specific request format, encoding, or environment state) limits reliable exploitation. No authentication is required per PR:N and no user interaction per UI:N, but realistic impact depends on which local files are reachable and whether an includable attacker-controlled file exists on the host to achieve code execution rather than mere disclosure. Sites updated to 2.1.6 or later are not affected.

Impact

This is a PHP Local File Inclusion flaw (CWE-98) in the ThemeMove 'Billey' WordPress theme, versions up to and including 2.1.5 (fixed in 2.1.6). The supplied CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, score 8.1) describes a network-reachable, unauthenticated issue but with HIGH attack complexity, which tempers the raw score - AC:H implies a non-trivial precondition or race/encoding requirement rather than a trivially repeatable request. The EPSS score is low (0.53%, 43rd percentile), and the vulnerability is NOT in CISA KEV and has no public exploit identified, so all three real-world-exploitation signals (EPSS, KEV, POC) point to low current exploitation activity despite the high CVSS. Note a naming/classification tension: the CWE and title reference 'PHP Remote File Inclusion' while the Patchstack description explicitly states the realized impact is 'PHP Local File Inclusion' - treat this as LFI (inclusion of local paths), which typically yields source/secret disclosure and can escalate to code execution if an attacker-controlled file can be referenced. Net assessment: a genuinely serious flaw for sites running the affected theme, but currently a moderate rather than urgent priority given no exploitation evidence, high attack complexity, and a niche commercial-theme footprint - prioritize patching but it is not a mass-exploitation emergency at this time.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote, unauthenticated attacker crafts a request to a vulnerable Billey theme endpoint that passes attacker-influenced input into a PHP include/require path, causing the application to include a local file. Successful inclusion can disclose sensitive files (e.g., configuration, credentials) or execute PHP if a controllable local file can be referenced. No public proof-of-concept is currently available, and the HIGH attack complexity suggests exploitation requires a specific precondition rather than a simple one-shot request.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.5% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 08, 2026

Local file inclusion in the ThemeMove Billey WordPress theme (all versions from initial release through 2.1.5) allows unauthenticated remote attackers to pass attacker-influenced input into a PHP include/require statement, enabling disclosure of local files on the web server and, where an includable attacker-controlled file is reachable on the host, escalation to code execution. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects high confidentiality, integrity and availability impact but also a non-trivial precondition that limits reliable exploitation, while EPSS is low at 0.53% (43rd percentile) and no public exploit identified at time of analysis. Sites running Billey 2.1.6 or later are not affected.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade the ThemeMove Billey theme to version 2.1.6 or later, which resolves the include/require input handling; this is the primary and only complete fix and should be applied through the WordPress theme update mechanism or by downloading the fixed package from the vendor. If the theme cannot be updated immediately, switch to a maintained alternative theme or deactivate Billey until patching is possible, since an inactive theme's vulnerable code path is not reachable - the trade-off is loss of the site's current appearance and layout. As an interim compensating control, deploy WAF or virtual-patching rules that block requests containing PHP stream wrappers and traversal sequences (for example php://filter, php://input, data://, and repeated ../ patterns) in theme-related parameters; expect potential false positives on legitimate input and do not treat this as equivalent to patching. Verify that allow_url_include remains disabled (and consider disabling allow_url_fopen) to suppress remote-inclusion paths, keeping in mind that these are defense-in-depth measures that do not remediate the underlying CWE-98 flaw. Additionally, restrict filesystem read permissions on the web server and monitor for encoded traversal or wrapper strings in access logs, which can indicate exploitation attempts. Full details and the fixed-version reference are available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/billey/vulnerability/wordpress-billey-theme-2-1-6-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw is classified as CWE-98, Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program, the root-cause class behind PHP file inclusion bugs. In the ThemeMove Billey WordPress theme, a theme code path feeds attacker-influenced input into a PHP include/require construct without adequately constraining the resulting path, so a crafted request can cause the application to resolve and execute or read an unintended local file. Although the vendor description labels it a 'PHP Remote File Inclusion' issue, the practical primitive described is local file inclusion; remote inclusion via URL wrappers generally requires allow_url_include to be enabled, which is off by default in modern PHP, so LFI-style local file reads (for example through php://filter wrappers or path traversal into readable files) are the realistic outcome, with code execution possible only if an attacker-controlled includable file already exists on the host (for example a poisoned log, session file, or uploaded artifact). The CVSS vector's AC:H and the low EPSS score both indicate a non-trivial precondition (such as a specific request format, encoding, or environment state) rather than trivial, reliably reproducible exploitation. The affected package is captured by the CPE cpe:2.3:a:thememove:billey:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*, confirming the exposure is confined to the WordPress theme distribution rather than the WordPress core.

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Severity by source

Vendor (patchstack) PRIMARY 8.1 HIGH
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.1 HIGH

Network-reachable unauthenticated LFI (AV:N/PR:N/UI:N); AC:H retained for the non-trivial precondition; PHP inclusion of local files can disclose secrets and execute code, so C/I/A all High.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (patchstack).

CVSS VectorVendor: patchstack

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in ThemeMove Billey billey allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Billey: from n/a through < 2.1.6.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The ThemeMove Billey WordPress theme, deployed across our public-facing web properties, contains a high-severity local file inclusion vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive server files and potentially execute arbitrary code. With no public exploit identified at time of analysis and a vendor-released patch: 2.1.6 available, the primary risk is to organizations still running versions 2.1.5 or earlier, where a successful attack could lead to data breach, website takeover, and reputational damage. Leadership should prioritize immediate remediation to prevent potential exploitation and ensure compliance with security best practices.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.5%
Top 57% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
niche commercial WordPress theme, limited per-site installs
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.5%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

41
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +40
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities occur when an application accepts user-controlled input to specify which file should be loaded or executed, typically through functions like PHP's `include()`, `require()`, or `fopen()`.

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:thememove:billey:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*

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