CVE-2025-52807 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 ApusWP Kossy - Minimalist eCommerce WordPress Theme, versions up to 1.45. The flaw allows for PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI) or potentially Local File Inclusion (LFI), enabling an attacker to manipulate the filename parameter used in PHP's include or require functions. This manipulation can lead to the execution of arbitrary PHP code, resulting in full compromise of the affected web application. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, but it has a high attack complexity, indicating some conditions must be met for successful exploitation. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 reflects the critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as an attacker can execute arbitrary code, access sensitive data, and disrupt service. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input that controls file inclusion paths, a common and dangerous flaw in PHP applications. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a popular WordPress theme used for eCommerce sites makes it a significant risk. The lack of available patches at the time of publication further increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to website defacement, data theft, installation of backdoors, or use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks within an organization's network.

For European organizations, especially those operating eCommerce platforms using WordPress with the ApusWP Kossy theme, this vulnerability poses a severe risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to customer data, including personal and payment information, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, potentially resulting in heavy fines and reputational damage. The integrity of the website content and transactional data could be compromised, undermining customer trust. Availability impacts could disrupt online sales and business operations, causing financial losses. Additionally, compromised servers could be leveraged to launch attacks on other internal systems or third parties, amplifying the security impact. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of minimalist eCommerce themes, organizations may face targeted attacks aiming to exploit this vulnerability. The high severity and remote exploitability without authentication make it a critical concern for IT security teams in European enterprises, particularly in retail, hospitality, and small to medium-sized businesses relying on WordPress-based eCommerce solutions.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Conducting an inventory to identify all instances of the ApusWP Kossy theme in use across organizational websites. 2) Temporarily disabling or removing the vulnerable theme until a patch or update is available. 3) Implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion vulnerabilities, such as those containing directory traversal sequences or remote URLs in parameters controlling file includes. 4) Applying strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters, especially those influencing file paths, to prevent injection of malicious input. 5) Restricting PHP configuration settings, such as disabling allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen, to reduce the risk of remote file inclusion. 6) Monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns or error messages indicative of attempted exploitation. 7) Planning for a timely update or patch deployment once the vendor releases a fix. 8) Educating developers and administrators about secure coding practices related to file inclusion and the risks of using untrusted input in include/require statements. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific nature of the vulnerability and the operational context of WordPress eCommerce sites.