Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description states unauthenticated PHP object injection over the network with no user interaction; deserialization gadgets typically enable full RCE, so C/I/A:H.
Primary rating from Vendor (Patchstack).
CVSS VectorVendor: Patchstack
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
1DescriptionCVE.org
Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection in Hot Coffee <= 1.7 versions.
Articles & Coverage 1
AnalysisAI
Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection in the ThemeREX Hot Coffee WordPress theme (versions ≤ 1.7) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary serialized PHP objects, potentially triggering property-oriented programming (POP) chains that lead to remote code execution, arbitrary file operations, or full site compromise. The flaw was disclosed by Patchstack and carries a CVSS 9.8 due to network reachability with no authentication or user interaction, though no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.
Technical ContextAI
Hot Coffee is a commercial WordPress theme distributed by ThemeREX (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:themerex:hot_coffee). The underlying weakness is CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data): the theme passes attacker-controlled input into PHP's unserialize() without validating that the serialized payload originates from a trusted source. When unserialize() rebuilds objects, PHP automatically invokes magic methods such as __wakeup() and __destruct() on resulting instances. If any class available in the WordPress runtime (core, other plugins, or themes loaded in the same process) contains a suitable POP gadget, the deserialization can be chained into file writes, SQL queries, or code execution. Because WordPress installations typically load many plugins/themes, gadget chains are commonly reachable in practice.
RemediationAI
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis - the Patchstack advisory (https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/theme/hot-coffee/vulnerability/wordpress-hot-coffee-theme-1-7-php-object-injection-vulnerability) does not cite a fixed version in the supplied data, so administrators should check ThemeREX for a release above 1.7 and upgrade as soon as one is published. Until a vendor update is available, the most effective compensating control is to deploy the Patchstack mAX or an equivalent WordPress WAF with a virtual patch rule blocking serialized PHP payloads (strings matching patterns like O:\d+:" or a:\d+:{) on requests reaching the theme's endpoints - note this can break legitimate forms that legitimately transport serialized data. Alternatively, switch the site to a different theme until a fix ships, or restrict access to the theme's vulnerable entry points via web-server rules; auditing for unexpected admin users, scheduled tasks (wp_cron), and modified PHP files is recommended in case exploitation has already occurred.
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Same weakness CWE-502 – Deserialization of Untrusted Data
View allSame technique Deserialization
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2025-210191