CVE-2025-53445 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability found in the axiomthemes Catwalk WordPress theme, affecting versions up to 1.4. The vulnerability arises from improper control over the filename used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to manipulate the input to include arbitrary files from the server. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive files such as configuration files, password files, or application source code. In some cases, LFI can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution by including files containing malicious code or log files with injected payloads. The vulnerability does not require authentication, making it exploitable by unauthenticated remote attackers. While no public exploits are currently documented, the nature of the flaw and the widespread use of WordPress themes make it a critical concern. The absence of a CVSS score suggests the need for careful severity assessment based on the impact and exploitability. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in December 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No official patches or updates are linked yet, so users must monitor vendor advisories closely. The issue is categorized as a vulnerability and is tracked in the CVE database under CVE-2025-53445.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe. Websites using the vulnerable Catwalk theme may suffer from unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including credentials, configuration files, or personal data, leading to privacy breaches and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. Successful exploitation could also allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the web server, potentially leading to full server compromise, defacement, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. This can disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and incur financial losses. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce are particularly at risk due to the sensitivity of their data and the criticality of their web presence. The lack of authentication requirement lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of attacks. Additionally, the absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread exploitation occurs.

1. Immediately check for updates or patches from axiomthemes for the Catwalk theme and apply them as soon as they become available. 2. If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling or replacing the Catwalk theme with a secure alternative to prevent exploitation. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any user-controllable parameters that influence file inclusion paths. 4. Configure the web server and PHP environment to disable remote file inclusion and restrict file access permissions to the minimum necessary. 5. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules designed to detect and block LFI attack patterns targeting PHP include/require functions. 6. Conduct thorough security audits and code reviews of custom themes and plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. 7. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion. 8. Educate development and IT teams about secure coding practices related to file inclusion and PHP security. 9. Ensure regular backups of website data and configurations to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.