CVE-2025-62053 is a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability found in the favethemes Houzez WordPress theme, affecting all versions prior to 4.2.0. The vulnerability arises from improper validation and control of filenames used in PHP include or require statements. Specifically, the theme allows user-controlled input to specify files that are included or required by the PHP application without sufficient sanitization or restriction. This flaw enables an attacker with at least low-level privileges (PR:L) and network access (AV:A) to remotely include arbitrary files, potentially hosted on attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system (C:H/I:H/A:H). Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code, escalate privileges, steal sensitive data, or disrupt service. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high CVSS score of 8.0 reflects the serious risk posed by this vulnerability. The issue is particularly critical in shared hosting or multi-user environments where low-privileged users can exploit the flaw to compromise the entire system. The vulnerability was reserved in early October 2025 and published in November 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. The lack of publicly available patches at the time of reporting suggests that organizations must implement interim mitigations until official updates are released.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-62053 is significant, especially for those using the Houzez theme in their WordPress installations. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in data breaches involving personal and financial information, disruption of business operations, defacement of websites, and use of compromised servers for further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution. Real estate and property management companies, which commonly use Houzez, may face reputational damage and regulatory penalties under GDPR if customer data is exposed. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability make it a critical risk. Additionally, the requirement for only low privileges and no user interaction increases the likelihood of exploitation in multi-tenant hosting environments common in Europe. Organizations may also face increased costs related to incident response, remediation, and potential legal liabilities.

1. Immediately upgrade the Houzez theme to version 4.2.0 or later once available, as this will contain the official patch for CVE-2025-62053. 2. Until patching is possible, restrict PHP include paths by configuring the 'open_basedir' directive to limit accessible directories and prevent inclusion of remote files. 3. Disable allow_url_include in PHP configurations to block remote file inclusion attempts. 4. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests containing file inclusion patterns or unexpected parameters. 5. Conduct a thorough audit of user privileges on WordPress installations to minimize the number of users with the ability to influence file inclusion parameters. 6. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to file inclusion or PHP errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Educate administrators and developers about secure coding practices to avoid similar vulnerabilities in custom themes or plugins. 8. Consider isolating WordPress instances in containerized or sandboxed environments to limit potential damage from exploitation.