CVE-2025-53244 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 Unfoldwp Magazine Elite product up to version 1.2.4. The flaw allows for PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI), a type of vulnerability where an attacker can manipulate the file path used in include or require statements to execute arbitrary 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, information disclosure, and full system compromise if exploited successfully. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, but it has a high attack complexity, indicating some conditions or constraints must be met for exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability allows an attacker to include unintended files, potentially exposing sensitive information or executing malicious code within the context of the web server. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, which suggests that organizations using this product should be vigilant and monitor for updates. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in August 2025, indicating it is a recent discovery.

For European organizations using the Unfoldwp Magazine Elite product, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including configuration files, credentials, or user data, which would violate GDPR and other data protection regulations. The ability to execute arbitrary code could allow attackers to pivot within the network, disrupt services, or deploy ransomware, impacting business continuity and reputation. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations in sectors such as media, publishing, and content management that rely on this product could face operational disruptions and regulatory penalties. Additionally, the remote exploitability without authentication increases the threat surface, especially for publicly accessible web servers. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly once details become public. Therefore, European organizations should consider this vulnerability a critical security concern and prioritize mitigation.

1. Immediate mitigation should involve restricting access to vulnerable endpoints by implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious include/require parameter manipulations. 2. Employ strict input validation and sanitization on any user-controllable parameters that influence file inclusion paths to prevent directory traversal or injection of malicious file paths. 3. Disable PHP functions that facilitate dynamic file inclusion if not required, such as 'include', 'require', 'include_once', and 'require_once', or use allowlists for included files. 4. Isolate the web server environment using containerization or sandboxing to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 5. Monitor logs for unusual file inclusion attempts or errors indicating failed or successful exploitation attempts. 6. Engage with the vendor (Unfoldwp) to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available and apply them promptly. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on file inclusion vulnerabilities. 8. Implement least privilege principles for the web server user to minimize damage from code execution.