CVE-2025-60126 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-98, which involves improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within PHP programs. Specifically, this vulnerability affects the PluginOps Testimonial Slider plugin, versions up to 3.5.8.6. The flaw allows an attacker with at least low-level privileges (PR:L) to perform remote file inclusion (RFI) or local file inclusion (LFI) attacks by manipulating the filename parameter used in PHP's include or require functions. This can lead to arbitrary code execution, as the attacker can cause the application to include malicious PHP files from remote or local sources. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability affects resources within the same security scope. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, data theft, data modification, and service disruption. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the high CVSS score of 8.8 reflects the critical nature of the vulnerability. The absence of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input used in file inclusion, a common and dangerous PHP security issue that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code remotely or locally on the affected server.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those using the PluginOps Testimonial Slider plugin on their websites or web applications. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, intellectual property, and internal systems, resulting in data breaches and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The ability to execute arbitrary code could allow attackers to deploy malware, ransomware, or use the compromised servers as pivot points for further attacks within the network. This could disrupt business operations, damage brand reputation, and incur financial losses due to remediation costs and potential regulatory fines. Organizations in sectors with high web presence such as e-commerce, media, and public services are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity means attackers may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability becomes widely known.

European organizations should immediately audit their web environments to identify installations of the PluginOps Testimonial Slider plugin, particularly versions up to 3.5.8.6. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Disable or remove the vulnerable plugin if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface. 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization at the web application firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy level to block suspicious requests attempting to manipulate include parameters. 3) Employ PHP configuration hardening, such as disabling allow_url_include and restricting include paths to trusted directories. 4) Monitor web server logs for unusual file inclusion attempts or anomalous requests targeting the plugin endpoints. 5) Restrict file system permissions to prevent the web server from accessing sensitive files or directories that could be included maliciously. 6) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once an official fix is available by maintaining an up-to-date inventory of affected systems. 7) Conduct security awareness training for developers and administrators on secure coding practices related to file inclusion vulnerabilities.