CVE-2025-58948 is a vulnerability in the Aromatica theme developed by axiomthemes, identified as an improper control of filenames used in PHP include or require statements, leading to a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability. This flaw allows an attacker to supply a crafted filename parameter that the PHP application includes without proper validation, enabling remote code execution by including malicious files hosted on attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability affects Aromatica versions up to 1.8 and is categorized under PHP Local File Inclusion issues, but the description and CVSS vector confirm remote exploitation is possible. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.1 reflects a network attack vector with low complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary, and the impact on confidentiality and integrity is high, while availability remains unaffected. The vulnerability was reserved in September 2025 and published in December 2025, with no known exploits in the wild yet. The absence of patches or official fixes at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation. This vulnerability is critical because it can lead to full compromise of affected web servers, data leakage, and unauthorized control over the web application environment.

For European organizations, especially those running websites or applications using the Aromatica theme on PHP platforms, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including customer information and internal configurations, damaging confidentiality. Integrity is compromised as attackers can execute arbitrary code, potentially defacing websites or injecting malware. Although availability is not directly impacted, secondary effects such as cleanup or mitigation downtime could disrupt services. Given the widespread use of PHP and WordPress themes in Europe’s e-commerce, media, and public sectors, the vulnerability could facilitate targeted attacks against high-value targets. The lack of required privileges lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. This could also lead to reputational damage and regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed.

Organizations should immediately audit their use of the Aromatica theme and identify affected versions (<=1.8). Since no official patches are currently available, temporary mitigations include disabling allow_url_include in PHP configurations to prevent remote file inclusion and enforcing strict input validation and sanitization on all parameters that influence file inclusion. Web application firewalls (WAFs) should be configured to detect and block suspicious include/require requests. Additionally, organizations should monitor logs for unusual file inclusion attempts and user interactions that could trigger exploitation. Planning for theme updates or migration to secure alternatives is critical once patches are released. Security teams should also educate developers and administrators about secure coding practices to avoid similar vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on file inclusion flaws are recommended to detect any residual risks.