CVE-2025-29002 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-98, which involves improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within PHP programs. Specifically, this vulnerability affects the 'Simen' theme developed by snstheme, versions up to 4.6. The flaw allows an attacker to perform a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) attack by manipulating the filename parameter that is used in PHP's include or require functions without proper validation or sanitization. This can lead to the inclusion and execution of arbitrary local files on the server. Although the description mentions 'PHP Remote File Inclusion,' the actual impact is local file inclusion, which still poses significant risks. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N), but requires high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), as an attacker could read sensitive files, execute arbitrary code, or cause denial of service. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2025 and published in June 2025. The absence of patches and the high CVSS score indicate that this is a critical issue for users of the Simen theme in PHP-based web environments, particularly content management systems or e-commerce platforms that rely on this theme. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, extract sensitive data such as configuration files or credentials, or disrupt service availability by executing malicious scripts.

For European organizations using the Simen theme in their PHP-based websites or applications, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. The ability to include local files remotely can lead to full system compromise, data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and service outages. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government that rely on PHP-based CMS platforms with this theme are particularly vulnerable. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that sensitive customer data, intellectual property, and operational continuity could be severely affected. Additionally, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. The lack of available patches increases the urgency for mitigation. Given the remote exploitability without authentication or user interaction, attackers can automate attacks at scale, potentially targeting multiple organizations simultaneously. This could lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and financial losses for affected European entities.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or removing the Simen theme from production environments until a vendor patch is released. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any parameters that influence include or require statements in PHP code to prevent malicious filename manipulation. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting local file inclusion patterns targeting the Simen theme. 4. Restrict PHP's file inclusion paths by configuring open_basedir to limit accessible directories, reducing the risk of arbitrary file inclusion. 5. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual access patterns or errors related to file inclusion attempts. 6. Conduct a thorough audit of all PHP themes and plugins in use to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. 7. Prepare incident response plans to quickly isolate affected systems if exploitation is detected. 8. Engage with the vendor or community for updates and patches, and apply them promptly once available. 9. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and block exploitation attempts in real-time. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on theme-specific mitigation, PHP configuration hardening, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.