CVE-2025-2101 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the EduMall WordPress theme developed by ThemeMove, specifically all versions up to and including 4.2.4. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Programs, commonly known as a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) or Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability. It arises from insufficient validation of the 'template' parameter in the 'edumall_lazy_load_template' AJAX action. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the parameter to include arbitrary PHP files on the server. Since the inclusion is done without proper sanitization or access control, attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code contained in these files. The exploit does not require authentication or user interaction, but it does have a higher attack complexity due to the need to identify or upload malicious PHP files to the server. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the web server, including bypassing access controls, data exfiltration, and remote code execution. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. Although no public exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the high CVSS score of 8.1 reflects the significant risk posed by this vulnerability. No official patches have been released at the time of this report, increasing the urgency for mitigation. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of the EduMall theme for educational LMS websites, this vulnerability presents a critical risk to organizations relying on this software for online learning platforms.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-2101 can be severe, especially for educational institutions, e-learning providers, and any entities using the EduMall theme for their WordPress-based LMS platforms. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive educational data, including student records, personal information, and proprietary course materials. Attackers could execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise, defacement, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks within the organization's network. This could disrupt educational services, damage organizational reputation, and result in regulatory non-compliance, particularly under GDPR due to potential data breaches. The vulnerability's ability to bypass authentication and the lack of required user interaction make it highly exploitable remotely, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. Additionally, compromised LMS platforms could be used to distribute malware or phishing content to students and staff, amplifying the threat. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a limited window for proactive defense, but the high severity score indicates that attackers are likely to develop exploits soon.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the vulnerable AJAX endpoint 'edumall_lazy_load_template' via web application firewalls (WAFs) or server-level access controls to block unauthenticated requests targeting the 'template' parameter. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on the 'template' parameter to ensure only allowed templates can be loaded, ideally by whitelisting valid template names. 3. Disable or remove the vulnerable AJAX action if it is not essential for site functionality. 4. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests containing unusual or directory traversal strings in the 'template' parameter. 5. Restrict file upload capabilities on the WordPress installation to trusted users only, and scan uploaded files for malicious content to prevent attackers from uploading PHP files that could be included. 6. Employ PHP configuration hardening such as disabling allow_url_include and restricting include paths to prevent remote file inclusion. 7. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 8. Stay alert for official patches or updates from ThemeMove and apply them promptly once available. 9. Conduct penetration testing focused on file inclusion vulnerabilities to identify any residual risks. 10. Educate site administrators about the risks of installing untrusted plugins or themes and encourage minimal use of third-party components.