CVE-2025-53576 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 Events plugin up to version 1.2.8. 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 files on the server, potentially enabling remote code execution, disclosure of sensitive information, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, but it has a high attack complexity, indicating that some conditions or knowledge are necessary to exploit it successfully. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input that controls the file path in PHP include/require functions, allowing attackers to traverse directories or specify unintended files. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential impact is significant given the critical nature of remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in PHP applications. No patches are currently linked, suggesting that affected users should monitor vendor advisories closely for updates or consider temporary mitigations.

For European organizations using the Ovatheme Events plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including customer information, internal documents, or credentials stored on the server. Attackers could execute arbitrary PHP code, leading to full system compromise, defacement, or use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks within the corporate network. This is particularly critical for organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where data breaches can result in severe legal and financial penalties under GDPR. Additionally, disruption of event management systems could impact business operations and reputation. Since the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, any publicly accessible web server running the vulnerable plugin is at risk, increasing the attack surface for European enterprises relying on WordPress or similar CMS platforms with Ovatheme Events installed.

European organizations should immediately audit their web environments to identify installations of the Ovatheme Events plugin, especially versions up to 1.2.8. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Disable or remove the Ovatheme Events plugin if it is not essential. 2) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion patterns, such as directory traversal sequences or unusual parameter values in include/require statements. 3) Restrict PHP include paths and disable allow_url_include in the PHP configuration to prevent remote file inclusion. 4) Employ strict input validation and sanitization on all user inputs, particularly those influencing file paths. 5) Monitor web server logs for anomalous access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Segregate and harden web servers hosting the plugin to limit the blast radius in case of compromise. 7) Prepare incident response plans specific to web application compromise scenarios. Organizations should stay alert for vendor patches or updates and apply them promptly once available.