CVE-2025-58927 is a vulnerability classified as 'Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program,' commonly known as PHP Remote File Inclusion (RFI), found in the axiomthemes Stallion WordPress theme versions up to 1.17. The vulnerability arises because the theme improperly validates or sanitizes user-supplied input used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to specify a remote file to be included and executed by the server. This leads to remote code execution, enabling attackers to run arbitrary PHP code on the affected server. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction but does require network access to the vulnerable web server. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, indicating high severity, with vector metrics AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack is network-based, requires high attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability fully. Although no exploits are known in the wild yet, the potential impact is severe, including full server compromise, data breaches, and service disruption. The vulnerability affects Stallion theme users who have not updated beyond version 1.17. Since the Stallion theme is used in WordPress sites, which are widespread globally, the attack surface is significant. The vulnerability was published on December 18, 2025, with the issue reserved on September 6, 2025. No official patches or mitigation links are currently provided, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proactive defense.

The impact of CVE-2025-58927 on European organizations can be substantial, especially for those relying on WordPress websites using the Stallion theme. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to fully compromise affected web servers. This can result in unauthorized data access, data exfiltration, website defacement, insertion of malicious content (e.g., malware distribution), and disruption of web services. For organizations handling sensitive customer or business data, this could lead to significant confidentiality breaches and reputational damage. Additionally, compromised servers may be used as pivot points for further attacks within corporate networks, increasing the risk of broader IT infrastructure compromise. The high attack complexity somewhat limits exploitation but does not eliminate the threat, especially from skilled adversaries. Given the critical role of web presence in European businesses and public sector entities, this vulnerability poses a direct threat to operational continuity and data protection compliance under regulations such as GDPR.

1. Immediate action should be to monitor for an official patch or update from axiomthemes and apply it as soon as it becomes available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict the web server's PHP configuration to disable remote file inclusion (e.g., setting 'allow_url_include' to 'Off' in php.ini). 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any user inputs that may influence file inclusion paths, if custom modifications exist. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block attempts to exploit RFI vulnerabilities, such as suspicious URL parameters or inclusion attempts. 5. Conduct thorough security audits of WordPress installations to identify and remove any unauthorized files or backdoors. 6. Limit the privileges of the web server user to minimize the impact of a successful exploit. 7. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 8. Educate web administrators about the risks of using outdated themes and plugins and encourage timely updates. 9. Monitor network traffic and logs for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 10. Consider isolating critical web services in segmented network zones to reduce lateral movement risk.