CVE-2025-58931 is a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability found in the Palatio theme developed by axiomthemes, affecting versions up to 1.6. The vulnerability stems from improper control over the filename parameter used in PHP include or require statements, which allows an attacker to specify a remote file to be included and executed by the server. This type of vulnerability can lead to remote code execution or unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.2, reflecting a high severity due to the vulnerability's network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality is high as attackers can potentially read sensitive files or execute arbitrary code, while integrity impact is low and availability is unaffected. The vulnerability affects web servers running PHP with the Palatio theme installed, commonly used in WordPress environments. No patches or exploits are currently publicly known, but the vulnerability was reserved in September 2025 and published in December 2025. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as attackers can exploit it remotely without any prior access. The vulnerability is categorized under improper control of filenames in include/require statements, a common PHP security flaw that can be mitigated by validating and sanitizing input parameters and restricting file inclusion paths.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to web applications using the Palatio theme, potentially leading to unauthorized remote code execution or data disclosure. This can compromise sensitive customer data, intellectual property, and internal systems, resulting in reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and operational disruption. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, attackers can exploit it remotely at scale, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. Organizations relying on PHP-based CMS platforms, especially WordPress with the Palatio theme, are particularly vulnerable. The impact is heightened for sectors with critical web presence such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government services. Additionally, exploitation could serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within networks, increasing the overall security risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score underscores the urgency of addressing the issue.

1. Immediately inventory all web assets to identify any installations of the Palatio theme version 1.6 or earlier. 2. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available; monitor axiomthemes and trusted security advisories for patch releases. 3. In the absence of patches, implement temporary mitigations such as disabling remote file inclusion in PHP configurations (e.g., setting 'allow_url_include' to 'Off'). 4. Restrict file inclusion paths using PHP's open_basedir directive to limit accessible directories. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules specifically designed to detect and block RFI attempts targeting PHP include/require parameters. 6. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on all parameters that influence file inclusion to prevent injection of remote URLs. 7. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion vulnerabilities. 8. Educate development teams on secure coding practices related to file inclusion and parameter handling. 9. Consider isolating or sandboxing vulnerable web applications to limit potential damage. 10. Regularly scan web applications with vulnerability scanners that detect RFI issues.