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Especio WordPress Theme EUVDEUVD-2025-210201

| CVE-2025-69124 HIGH
PHP Remote File Inclusion (CWE-98)
2026-06-16 Patchstack
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. Recon
    Identify WordPress site running Especio ≤ 1.0
  2. Delivery
    Send crafted request with path-traversal parameter
  3. Exploit
    Theme include() resolves attacker path
  4. Install
    Read wp-config.php and secrets
  5. C2
    Reuse credentials or poison includable file
  6. Execute
    Execute PHP as web user
  7. Impact
    Full site and database compromise

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

Exploitation requires that the Especio theme (version ≤ 1.0) be installed and active on a reachable WordPress instance and that the attacker can reach the specific theme endpoint that performs the unsanitized include - the Patchstack advisory does not name the parameter, which is what the CVSS AC:H reflects. No authentication, no user interaction, and no non-default WordPress configuration are required, but achieving I:H/A:H (beyond mere file read) additionally depends on the server allowing PHP to read or include attacker-influenced files such as session stores, uploads, or logs. Limiting factors: the theme must be the one handling the request path, PHP's open_basedir or chroot restrictions will cap which files can be read, and hosts with allow_url_include disabled prevent the easiest RCE chain.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H yields 8.1 (High): network-reachable, no authentication, no user interaction, but AC:H signals that some non-trivial condition (specific parameter, configuration, or path crafting) must be met. EPSS is not provided and the vulnerability is not on the CISA KEV list, so there is no signal of opportunistic mass exploitation today. However, WordPress themes are routinely scanned by automated kits once a Patchstack advisory is published, so risk will rise quickly; the Patchstack reference is the only public source, which is consistent with disclosure-without-public-PoC. The I:H/A:H ratings in the vector are aggressive for a pure LFI - they are credible only if the inclusion can be chained to write-controllable files (uploads, logs, sessions) for execution, which should be verified against the theme code rather than treated as confirmed.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An unauthenticated attacker discovers the vulnerable endpoint on a public WordPress site running Especio and sends a crafted HTTP request whose parameter value resolves, after the theme's include statement, to a sensitive local file such as ../../../../wp-config.php, returning database credentials and the WordPress secret keys. With those credentials the attacker authenticates to the database or admin panel and pivots to full site compromise; if PHP session files or web-server logs are writable and includable, the same primitive can be chained into remote code execution. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but the bug class is well understood and automated scanners commonly weaponize LFI advisories within days of publication.

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 – Jun 16, 2026

Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion in the ThemeRex Especio WordPress theme (versions ≤ 1.0) allows remote attackers to coerce the PHP application into including arbitrary files from the underlying server. Because the include path is attacker-controlled and no authentication is required, the flaw can lead to disclosure of sensitive files (wp-config.php, system files) and, depending on local file primitives available on the server, escalation to code execution. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and the vulnerability is not currently listed in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis - the Patchstack advisory (https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/theme/especio/vulnerability/wordpress-especio-theme-1-0-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability) does not cite a fixed version above 1.0, so operators should check the ThemeRex customer portal for an updated build and, in its absence, deactivate and remove the Especio theme until a patched release is available (switching to a default theme such as Twenty Twenty-Four is the cleanest workaround but will change site appearance). Compensating controls include placing the site behind a WAF with rules that block path-traversal sequences (../, %2e%2e, php://, file://) and null-byte payloads on theme endpoints; restricting PHP's open_basedir to the WordPress install root so includes cannot reach /etc or /var; and setting allow_url_include=Off and disable_functions for risky wrappers. Each of these reduces but does not eliminate exposure and may break legitimate theme AJAX calls, so test in staging first.

Affected VersionsENISA

Especio n/a ≤1.0

Affected Packages

euvd especio no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

Especio is a commercial WordPress theme distributed by ThemeRex (CPE cpe:2.3:a:themerex:especio). The root cause is CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program), commonly known as PHP file inclusion. A PHP include/require statement within the theme consumes user-controllable input - typically via a GET/POST parameter or an AJAX handler - without restricting it to an allow-list, normalizing the path, or appending a fixed extension. This permits traversal sequences or absolute paths that resolve to local files outside the theme directory, and on PHP builds where include wrappers are reachable it can extend to log poisoning or session-file inclusion for code execution.

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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 7.0 HIGH

Network-reachable theme endpoint, no auth or interaction; AC:H because the exact vulnerable parameter is undisclosed; LFI reliably yields C:H but I/A are only Low without confirmed RCE chain.

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

Unauthenticated Local File Inclusion in Especio <= 1.0 versions.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The ThemeRex Especio WordPress theme (versions 1.0 and earlier) contains a critical unauthenticated file inclusion vulnerability allowing remote attackers to access sensitive server files and potentially execute code without authentication. Any WordPress installation using this theme faces immediate risk of data breach and system compromise, with no patch currently available from the vendor.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Immediate: Deactivate the vulnerable theme and replace with an alternative; implement Web Application Firewall rules to block file inclusion patterns (../, /etc/passwd, wp-config.php); restrict direct access to wp-content/themes directory where possible; implement file integrity monitoring on wp-config.php and critical system files. Monitor outbound connections from web servers for data exfiltration. Pending vendor patch availability, maintain these controls indefinitely or until theme is removed from all systems.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.5%
Top 63% exploitable
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

40
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
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.

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