Cyber Posture

CVE-2025-53443

High

Published: 18 December 2025

Published
18 December 2025
Modified
20 January 2026
KEV Added
—
Patch
—
CVSS Score 8.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0022 44.7th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Description

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in axiomthemes Smash smash allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Smash: from n/a through <= 1.7.

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

Directly mitigates the vulnerability by requiring timely patching of the Smash WordPress theme to fix the improper filename control in PHP include/require statements.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match
prevent

Requires validation of user-supplied filenames to block malicious inputs that enable local file inclusion via path traversal or arbitrary local PHP file execution.

SI-9 Information Input Restrictions good match
prevent

Enforces restrictions on filename inputs to whitelist only safe, approved files, preventing attackers from specifying arbitrary local PHP files for inclusion.

Security SummaryAI

CVE-2025-53443 is an Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program vulnerability, classified under CWE-98 and commonly known as PHP Remote File Inclusion, which enables PHP Local File Inclusion in the Smash WordPress theme developed by axiomthemes. This issue affects Smash versions from n/a through 1.7 inclusive. The vulnerability was published on 2025-12-18T08:15:54.760 and 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).

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network without requiring privileges or user interaction, though it demands high attack complexity. Successful exploitation grants high-impact access to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially allowing unauthenticated remote parties to include and execute local PHP files on the server.

Mitigation guidance is available in the Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Theme/smash/vulnerability/wordpress-smash-theme-1-7-local-file-inclusion-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

Details

CWE(s)
CWE-98

Affected Products

axiomthemes
smash
≤ 1.7

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 PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) in a public-facing WordPress theme, enabling unauthenticated remote code execution via exploitation of a public-facing web application.

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

References