CVE-2025-52814 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 ovatheme BRW product up to version 1.7.9. The flaw allows an attacker to perform a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) attack by manipulating the filename parameter used in include or require statements. This can lead to the inclusion and execution of arbitrary local files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive information, executing malicious code, or escalating privileges. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1, indicating a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, but with high attack complexity. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature makes it a significant risk if weaponized. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-controlled input used in PHP include/require statements, a common vector for LFI attacks. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to read sensitive files such as configuration files, password files, or application source code, and potentially execute arbitrary PHP code if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

For European organizations using ovatheme BRW, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including customer information, intellectual property, or internal credentials, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The integrity of web applications could be compromised, allowing attackers to modify application behavior or inject malicious payloads, potentially leading to further network compromise. Availability could also be affected if attackers execute denial-of-service conditions or disrupt application functionality. Given the remote, unauthenticated nature of the attack, threat actors could exploit this vulnerability at scale, targeting organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and finance that rely on PHP-based web applications. The high attack complexity somewhat limits exploitation but does not eliminate the risk, especially from skilled attackers or automated scanning tools. The absence of patches means organizations must rely on other mitigations until official fixes are released, increasing exposure time.

1. Immediate mitigation should include implementing strict input validation and sanitization on all user inputs that influence include or require statements, ensuring only allowed filenames or paths are accepted. 2. Employ PHP configuration directives such as 'open_basedir' to restrict the directories accessible by PHP scripts, limiting the scope of file inclusion. 3. Disable allow_url_include in php.ini to prevent remote file inclusion, although this vulnerability is local file inclusion, this setting reduces overall risk. 4. Use application-level whitelisting for include paths rather than dynamic user-controlled inputs. 5. Monitor web server and application logs for suspicious requests attempting to manipulate include parameters. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block LFI attack patterns targeting PHP applications. 7. Isolate the affected application in a segmented network zone to limit lateral movement if compromised. 8. Plan and prioritize patching as soon as an official fix becomes available from ovatheme. 9. Conduct security code reviews and penetration testing focused on file inclusion vulnerabilities in the application stack. 10. Educate development teams on secure coding practices related to file inclusion and input validation.