CVE-2025-52728 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. This specific vulnerability affects the Responsive Posts Carousel WordPress Plugin developed by WebCodingPlace. The flaw allows an attacker to perform PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) attacks by manipulating the filename parameter that is used in include or require statements without proper validation or sanitization. Although the description mentions 'PHP Remote File Inclusion,' the actual impact is local file inclusion, which can still be leveraged by attackers to read sensitive files on the server, execute arbitrary PHP code, or escalate privileges depending on the server configuration. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 15.0 of the plugin. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating a high severity, with the vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This means the attack can be performed remotely over the network but requires low privileges and high attack complexity, with no user interaction needed. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in August 2025. The plugin is used in WordPress environments to display responsive post carousels, which are common on many websites, making the attack surface potentially broad if the plugin is widely deployed without updates or mitigations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on WordPress websites that use the Responsive Posts Carousel plugin. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including configuration files, user credentials, or other critical information stored on the web server. Attackers could also execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to full server compromise, defacement, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. This could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to data breaches. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means organizations could face severe operational and financial consequences. Since WordPress is widely used across Europe for corporate, governmental, and e-commerce websites, the threat is relevant across multiple sectors. The requirement for low privileges to exploit means even compromised or low-level user accounts could be leveraged by attackers. The high attack complexity somewhat limits mass exploitation but targeted attacks against high-value organizations remain a concern.

European organizations should immediately identify if they use the Responsive Posts Carousel WordPress plugin, particularly versions up to 15.0. Since no official patch links are provided yet, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Temporarily disable or remove the plugin until a security update is released. 2) 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 unusual parameters in include/require statements. 3) Harden PHP configurations by disabling allow_url_include and restricting file access permissions to minimize the impact of LFI. 4) Conduct thorough code reviews and apply input validation and sanitization for any custom or third-party plugins. 5) Monitor web server logs for anomalous access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated regularly and subscribe to security advisories from plugin vendors and trusted sources. 7) Employ intrusion detection systems to alert on suspicious activities related to file inclusion or code execution. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate containment, detection, and configuration hardening specific to this vulnerability.