CVE-2025-48171 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 thembay Cena Store product, versions up to and including 2.11.26. The flaw allows for PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI), a type of vulnerability where an attacker can manipulate the file path used in include or require statements to execute arbitrary files on the server. Although the description mentions 'Remote File Inclusion' in the title, the actual vulnerability is a Local File Inclusion, meaning the attacker can include files already present on the server rather than fetching remote files. This can lead to severe consequences including disclosure of sensitive information, execution of arbitrary code, and full compromise of the web application and underlying server. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.1, indicating a high severity with the vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This means the attack can be performed remotely over the network without privileges or user interaction, but requires high attack complexity. The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, all rated high. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches are linked yet, suggesting that organizations using this product should urgently assess their exposure and prepare mitigation strategies. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-controlled input used in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to traverse directories or specify unintended files to be included and executed by the PHP interpreter.

For European organizations using the thembay Cena Store e-commerce platform, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive customer data, including personal and payment information, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The integrity of the web application could be compromised, allowing attackers to inject malicious code, deface websites, or manipulate transaction data. Availability could also be impacted if attackers execute denial-of-service attacks or disrupt normal operations. Given the e-commerce context, this could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. Furthermore, the ability to execute arbitrary code on the server may allow attackers to pivot into internal networks, escalating the threat to broader organizational infrastructure. The high attack complexity somewhat limits exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially from skilled threat actors. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

European organizations should immediately conduct an inventory to identify deployments of thembay Cena Store, particularly versions up to 2.11.26. Until an official patch is released, organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Apply strict input validation and sanitization on all user inputs that influence file inclusion paths, ensuring only allowed filenames or paths are accepted. 2) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting directory traversal or file inclusion patterns. 3) Restrict PHP include paths using configuration directives such as open_basedir to limit accessible directories. 4) Disable allow_url_include and other risky PHP settings if enabled. 5) Monitor server logs for anomalous access patterns indicative of LFI attempts. 6) Isolate the web server environment using containerization or sandboxing to limit impact if exploitation occurs. 7) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once the vendor releases an official fix. 8) Educate development and security teams about secure coding practices related to file inclusion to prevent recurrence.