CVE-2025-62053 is a remote file inclusion (RFI) vulnerability identified in the favethemes Houzez WordPress theme, affecting all versions prior to 4.2.0. The root cause is improper control over the filename parameter used in PHP include or require statements, which allows an attacker to manipulate the input to include arbitrary remote files. This vulnerability requires an attacker to have low-level privileges (authenticated with low privileges) but does not require any user interaction, making exploitation relatively straightforward once access is gained. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling remote code execution, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server, steal sensitive data, modify website content, or disrupt service availability. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that the attack can be performed over the network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges, and no user interaction, with high impact on all security properties. Although no public exploits are currently known, the nature of RFI vulnerabilities and the widespread use of the Houzez theme in real estate websites make this a critical threat. The vulnerability was reserved in early October 2025 and published in November 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No official patches or mitigation links are currently provided, emphasizing the need for immediate defensive measures.

European organizations using the Houzez WordPress theme, particularly those in the real estate sector, face significant risks from this vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to complete website compromise, data breaches involving client and business information, defacement of websites, and potential disruption of online services. This could damage organizational reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations due to data exposure), and cause financial losses. Given the theme’s popularity in property-related businesses, attackers could leverage this vulnerability for targeted attacks, espionage, or ransomware deployment. The requirement for low privileges means that even compromised or low-level user accounts could be leveraged to escalate attacks. The vulnerability’s network accessibility and lack of user interaction requirement increase the likelihood of exploitation in automated or targeted campaigns. Organizations with public-facing websites using Houzez are particularly vulnerable, and the impact extends beyond the website to backend systems if attackers gain further access.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress installations for the use of the Houzez theme and identify versions prior to 4.2.0. 2. Apply official patches or updates from favethemes as soon as they become available; monitor vendor communications closely. 3. In the absence of patches, implement strict input validation and sanitization on parameters controlling file inclusion to prevent remote URLs or unexpected file paths. 4. Configure web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious include/require requests or attempts to load remote files. 5. Restrict PHP configuration settings such as disabling allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen to prevent remote file inclusion. 6. Limit user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of low-privilege exploitation. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews of customizations to the theme or plugins that might exacerbate the vulnerability. 8. Monitor logs for unusual file inclusion attempts or unexpected outbound connections from web servers. 9. Educate administrators and developers about the risks of RFI vulnerabilities and secure coding practices related to file inclusion.