CVE-2025-52806 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 eyecix JobSearch product, versions up to and including 2.9.0. The flaw allows for PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI), a type of vulnerability where an attacker can manipulate the filename parameter in an include or require statement to execute arbitrary local files on the server. Although the description mentions 'PHP Remote File Inclusion,' the actual impact is local file inclusion, which can still lead to severe consequences such as arbitrary code execution, disclosure of sensitive files, and potential privilege escalation. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack can be performed remotely over the network, requires low privileges, no user interaction, and has a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack complexity is high, meaning exploitation requires some conditions or knowledge, but once exploited, it can lead to full compromise of the affected system. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that organizations using eyecix JobSearch should prioritize monitoring and mitigation. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-controlled input used in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to specify local files that the application will execute or disclose. This can lead to exposure of sensitive configuration files, source code, or even execution of malicious PHP code if an attacker can upload files or manipulate existing ones. Given the nature of JobSearch as a recruitment or job listing platform, the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise the underlying web server, leading to data breaches or service disruption.

For European organizations using eyecix JobSearch, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their web applications and underlying infrastructure. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive candidate and employer data, including personal identifiable information (PII), resumes, and job postings. This could result in violations of GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to legal penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, potentially pivoting within the network to compromise other systems. The high impact on availability could disrupt recruitment operations, causing business continuity issues. Since the vulnerability requires low privileges but no user interaction, automated attacks or scanning by threat actors are plausible once the vulnerability is publicly known. The lack of patches increases the urgency for European organizations to implement mitigations. The complexity of exploitation being high may reduce the immediate risk but does not eliminate it, especially if attackers develop exploit tools. Organizations in sectors with high recruitment activity, such as staffing agencies, large enterprises, and government bodies, are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of the data handled.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or restricting the use of dynamic include or require statements that accept user input in the JobSearch application code. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization to ensure that only allowed filenames or paths are processed, using whitelisting approaches rather than blacklisting. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion vulnerabilities. 4. Restrict file system permissions for the web server user to limit access to sensitive files and directories, minimizing the impact of potential LFI exploitation. 5. Monitor application logs and network traffic for unusual patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Engage with eyecix for official patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 7. Consider isolating the JobSearch application environment using containerization or sandboxing to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 8. Conduct security code reviews and penetration testing focused on file inclusion and input validation vulnerabilities. 9. Educate development and operations teams about secure coding practices related to file handling in PHP applications.