CVE-2025-49370 is a vulnerability classified as 'Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program,' commonly known as a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability, found in AncoraThemes Lymcoin versions up to 1.3.12. This vulnerability arises when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to specify a remote file to be included and executed by the server. Exploiting this flaw enables remote code execution (RCE), which can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.1 indicates a high severity, with network attack vector, no privileges required, no user interaction, but high attack complexity. The vulnerability affects web servers running the vulnerable Lymcoin theme, typically deployed on PHP-based CMS platforms such as WordPress. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential impact is significant due to the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code remotely. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in December 2025, with no official patches linked yet, indicating the need for immediate attention from users of the affected product. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as attackers can exploit it remotely without needing valid credentials or victim involvement. This flaw can lead to full system compromise, data theft, defacement, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49370 can be severe, especially for those relying on the AncoraThemes Lymcoin theme in their PHP-based web applications or CMS platforms. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized remote code execution, resulting in data breaches, defacement of websites, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations due to data exposure), and incur financial losses from remediation and downtime. Given the widespread use of PHP and CMS platforms in Europe, organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, education, and media are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements increase the likelihood of exploitation attempts, making it a critical concern for European cybersecurity teams. Additionally, the high attack complexity may limit exploitation to skilled attackers, but the absence of user interaction requirements lowers barriers for automated scanning and exploitation tools. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score demands urgent mitigation to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediate application of official patches or updates from AncoraThemes once available is the most effective mitigation. 2. In the absence of patches, restrict PHP include paths using configuration directives such as open_basedir to limit file inclusion to trusted directories. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data that may influence file inclusion logic. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block remote file inclusion attempts, including suspicious URL parameters and payloads. 5. Conduct regular code audits and penetration testing focusing on file inclusion mechanisms within the Lymcoin theme and related plugins. 6. Disable allow_url_include in PHP configuration to prevent inclusion of remote files if not required by the application. 7. Monitor web server logs for unusual requests targeting include or require parameters and investigate anomalies promptly. 8. Educate development and security teams about secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom themes or plugins. 9. Consider isolating vulnerable web applications in segmented network zones to limit potential lateral movement in case of compromise. 10. Maintain regular backups and incident response plans to enable rapid recovery if exploitation occurs.