CVE-2025-52729 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. Specifically, this vulnerability affects the thembay Diza product, versions up to 1.3.9. The flaw allows for PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI), which means an attacker can manipulate the filename parameter in the include or require statement to load unintended files from the local filesystem. This can lead to arbitrary code execution, disclosure of sensitive information, or complete compromise of the affected web application. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 reflects the critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, no privileges required, no user interaction needed, but with high attack complexity. The vulnerability arises because the application does not properly validate or sanitize the input controlling the filename in PHP include/require calls, enabling attackers to traverse directories or specify malicious file paths. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of this vulnerability makes it a prime target for exploitation, especially in web environments where thembay Diza is deployed. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations using thembay Diza, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including configuration files, credentials, or customer information, severely impacting confidentiality. Integrity can be compromised if attackers execute arbitrary PHP code by including malicious files, potentially leading to data manipulation or further network penetration. Availability may also be affected if attackers disrupt service or deploy ransomware. Given the web-based nature of the vulnerability, organizations with public-facing applications are particularly vulnerable. The impact is heightened for sectors with strict data protection regulations such as GDPR, where breaches can result in heavy fines and reputational damage. Additionally, the high attack complexity but no requirement for privileges or user interaction means attackers can remotely exploit this vulnerability without authentication, increasing the threat surface for European enterprises relying on this software.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Restricting or disabling the use of dynamic include/require statements where possible, or implementing strict whitelisting of allowable file paths. 2) Applying input validation and sanitization to ensure that any filename parameters cannot be manipulated to include unintended files, such as by removing directory traversal sequences or limiting input to predefined values. 3) Employing PHP configuration directives like open_basedir to restrict file access to specific directories. 4) Monitoring web server logs for suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion. 5) Isolating the affected application in a segmented network zone to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 6) Since no patches are currently available, organizations should engage with the vendor for updates and consider temporary compensating controls such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block exploitation attempts. 7) Conducting thorough code reviews and penetration testing focused on file inclusion vulnerabilities to identify and remediate similar issues.