CVE-2025-60240 is a vulnerability classified as improper control of filename for include/require statements in the PHP program Alexander AnyComment, specifically versions up to 0.3.6. This vulnerability enables remote file inclusion (RFI), a critical security flaw where an attacker can manipulate input parameters that control which files are included or required by the PHP application. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker can cause the application to include and execute malicious PHP code hosted on a remote server. This can lead to complete system compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive data (confidentiality), modification or destruction of data (integrity), and disruption of service (availability). The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating high severity, with attack vector network (AV:N), attack complexity high (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of RFI vulnerabilities makes them attractive targets for attackers, especially against web-facing PHP applications. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-controlled input used in include or require statements, a common PHP programming pitfall. This issue affects AnyComment, a PHP-based commenting system used to add interactive comment sections to websites. Without proper mitigation, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially gaining full control over the affected web server and pivoting to internal networks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-60240 can be severe. Many European companies and public sector entities rely on PHP-based web applications and content management systems that may integrate AnyComment or similar PHP components. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, data breaches involving personal and sensitive information protected under GDPR, defacement of websites, disruption of online services, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that critical business operations could be compromised, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. Public-facing web servers are particularly vulnerable, and sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and e-commerce in Europe are at elevated risk due to the value of their data and services. The requirement for user interaction and high attack complexity may reduce the likelihood of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but organizations should not delay remediation.

To mitigate CVE-2025-60240, European organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply patches or updates from Alexander for AnyComment as soon as they become available; 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all parameters controlling file inclusion to ensure only safe, expected files are included; 3) Disable allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen directives in PHP configurations to prevent remote file inclusion; 4) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block suspicious file inclusion attempts; 5) Conduct code reviews and security audits of PHP applications to identify and remediate unsafe include/require usage; 6) Restrict file system permissions to limit the PHP process’s ability to access or execute unauthorized files; 7) Educate developers on secure coding practices related to file inclusion; 8) Monitor logs for unusual requests or errors indicative of exploitation attempts; 9) Consider isolating or sandboxing web applications to limit the blast radius of a successful attack; 10) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to recover quickly if exploitation occurs.