CVE-2025-49255 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-98, which pertains to improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within PHP applications. Specifically, this vulnerability affects the thembay Ruza product, versions up to and including 1.0.7. The flaw allows for PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI), meaning an attacker can manipulate the filename parameter used in PHP's include or require functions to load arbitrary files from the local filesystem. This can lead to execution of malicious code, disclosure of sensitive information, or complete compromise of the affected web application and underlying server. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, and can be exploited remotely over the network, although the attack complexity is rated as high, indicating some conditions or knowledge are necessary for successful exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is currently published with no known exploits in the wild and no available patches at the time of reporting. The root cause is insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input that controls the filename in PHP include/require statements, enabling attackers to traverse directories or specify unintended files. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in PHP web applications as it can lead to remote code execution or data leakage, depending on the files included and server configuration. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is critical for affected installations to implement mitigations promptly to prevent potential exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49255 can be significant, especially for those relying on the thembay Ruza PHP product in their web infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including customer information, intellectual property, or internal configuration files. Attackers could also execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise, lateral movement within networks, or deployment of ransomware or other malware. This would disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and incur regulatory penalties under GDPR due to data breaches. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the criticality of their services. The high CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it a comprehensive threat. Additionally, the lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the presence of a public vulnerability disclosure increases the risk of future exploitation attempts. European entities with web applications using thembay Ruza should consider this vulnerability a priority for remediation to avoid potential operational and compliance impacts.

1. Immediate code review and input validation: Audit all PHP include/require statements in thembay Ruza installations to ensure that filenames are strictly validated against a whitelist of allowed values or sanitized to prevent directory traversal and remote file inclusion. 2. Apply virtual patching: If official patches are not yet available, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion, such as those containing directory traversal sequences (../) or unexpected file extensions. 3. Restrict file permissions: Harden server file permissions to limit the PHP process's access to only necessary directories and files, minimizing the impact of any file inclusion attempts. 4. Disable remote URL includes: Ensure that PHP configuration directives like allow_url_include are disabled to prevent remote file inclusion attacks. 5. Monitor logs and network traffic: Set up alerting for anomalous access patterns or error messages indicative of attempted file inclusion exploitation. 6. Plan for patch deployment: Engage with the vendor or community to obtain and test patches as soon as they become available, and prioritize their deployment in production environments. 7. Conduct penetration testing: After mitigation steps, perform targeted security testing to verify that the vulnerability has been effectively addressed. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate protective controls, configuration hardening, and proactive detection tailored to the nature of the vulnerability and the affected product.