CVE-2025-60067 is a vulnerability classified as 'Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program,' commonly known as a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability, found in the axiomthemes Giardino WordPress theme. The issue arises because the theme improperly handles user-supplied input used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary files to be included and executed by the PHP interpreter. This can lead to remote code execution (RCE) if an attacker can control the input to include malicious PHP code hosted remotely or locally. The vulnerability affects all versions of Giardino up to and including 1.1.10. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 reflects a high severity due to the network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R), and resulting in high confidentiality and integrity impacts (C:H/I:H) without affecting availability (A:N). Exploitation typically involves tricking a user or administrator into visiting a malicious URL that triggers the vulnerable include statement. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability presents a significant risk due to the potential for arbitrary code execution, which can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or website defacement. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or where the theme is used on publicly accessible websites. The lack of patch links suggests that no official fix has been released at the time of publication, requiring users to implement temporary mitigations or monitor for updates.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using the Giardino theme, especially those handling sensitive customer data or providing critical services online. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, modification or destruction of data, and unauthorized control over web servers. This can result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and operational disruptions. Public-facing websites are particularly vulnerable, and attackers could leverage the vulnerability to deploy malware, conduct phishing campaigns, or pivot to internal networks. The impact is amplified in sectors with high web presence such as e-commerce, media, and government services. Given the high WordPress market share in Europe, the potential attack surface is considerable. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger exploitation, increasing the risk to organizations with less security awareness among staff or customers.

Organizations should immediately inventory their WordPress installations to identify any use of the Giardino theme, particularly versions up to 1.1.10. Until an official patch is released, administrators should implement input validation and sanitization on any parameters controlling file inclusion to prevent arbitrary file paths. Disabling remote file inclusion in PHP configurations (e.g., setting allow_url_include=Off) can reduce risk. Web application firewalls (WAFs) should be configured to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit file inclusion. Monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns or errors related to file inclusion is recommended. Educating users and administrators about the risk of clicking untrusted links can reduce the likelihood of user interaction-based exploitation. Once a patch is available, prompt application of updates is critical. Additionally, consider isolating WordPress instances and limiting file permissions to minimize potential damage from exploitation.