CVE-2025-53447 is a remote file inclusion (RFI) vulnerability found in the axiomthemes Assembly PHP theme, specifically due to improper control over filenames used in include or require statements. This vulnerability allows an attacker to supply a crafted filename parameter that the PHP program includes without adequate validation, enabling the inclusion of remote malicious files. This can lead to arbitrary code execution on the affected server, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The vulnerability affects Assembly versions up to 1.1. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting a high severity with network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in December 2025. No public patches or known exploits are currently available, but the risk remains high due to the nature of RFI vulnerabilities. Attackers exploiting this flaw could execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. This vulnerability is particularly critical for web servers hosting PHP applications using the Assembly theme, which is commonly deployed on WordPress sites.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to web-facing applications using the Assembly theme. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, defacement of websites, deployment of malware, or use of compromised servers in broader attacks such as botnets or ransomware distribution. The impact extends to loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties under GDPR due to data breaches, and operational downtime. Organizations relying on Assembly for their web presence, especially in sectors like e-commerce, finance, and government, could face severe disruptions. Since the vulnerability allows remote code execution without authentication, attackers can exploit it at scale, increasing the threat landscape. Additionally, the lack of patches at the time of disclosure means organizations must implement interim mitigations to reduce exposure. The high attack complexity somewhat limits exploitation to skilled attackers, but the absence of required privileges or user interaction makes it accessible to remote adversaries.

1. Immediately monitor for updates or patches from axiomthemes and apply them as soon as they become available. 2. Until patches are released, restrict the web server’s PHP include paths to trusted directories using open_basedir or similar PHP configuration directives to prevent inclusion of remote files. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any parameters that influence file inclusion to ensure only expected filenames are processed. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block attempts to exploit file inclusion vulnerabilities. 5. Conduct thorough code reviews and security audits of customizations or plugins interacting with the Assembly theme to identify and remediate unsafe include/require usage. 6. Limit the permissions of the web server user to reduce the impact of potential code execution. 7. Monitor logs for suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion and respond promptly to incidents. 8. Educate development and operations teams about secure coding practices related to file inclusion and PHP security.