CVE-2025-24769 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-98, which pertains to improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within PHP programs. Specifically, this vulnerability affects the BZOTheme Zenny product, versions up to and including 1.7.5. The flaw allows for PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI), where an attacker can manipulate the filename parameter in an include or require statement to execute arbitrary local files on the server. This can lead to remote code execution if an attacker can upload malicious files or leverage existing files on the system to execute code. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, but it has a high attack complexity, indicating that some conditions must be met for successful exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability allows an attacker to read sensitive files, execute arbitrary code, and potentially take full control of the affected web server hosting the Zenny theme. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that organizations using this theme should prioritize mitigation and monitoring. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input used in PHP include/require statements, a common vector for file inclusion attacks in PHP applications.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24769 can be significant, especially for those using the BZOTheme Zenny in their web infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The ability to execute arbitrary code on web servers can lead to full system compromise, data breaches, defacement of websites, and disruption of services. This is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, where data confidentiality and service availability are paramount. Additionally, compromised servers could be used as pivot points for lateral movement within corporate networks or as part of botnets for further attacks. The lack of authentication requirement increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts. Given the high CVSS score and the nature of the vulnerability, European organizations should consider this a priority risk if they deploy this theme or related PHP applications with similar vulnerabilities.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or removing the vulnerable BZOTheme Zenny version from production environments until a patch is available. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters that influence file inclusion paths to prevent manipulation. 3. Employ PHP configuration directives such as 'open_basedir' to restrict the directories accessible by PHP scripts, limiting the scope of file inclusion. 4. Use allowlists for file inclusion paths rather than allowing dynamic file names. 5. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion, such as requests with directory traversal sequences or unusual parameters. 6. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting file inclusion attack patterns to block exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews focusing on file inclusion and input handling in PHP applications. 8. Once available, promptly apply official patches or updates from the vendor. 9. Consider isolating web servers running vulnerable themes in segmented network zones to limit potential lateral movement. 10. Educate development and operations teams about secure coding practices related to file inclusion vulnerabilities.