CVE-2025-67920: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') in Elated-Themes Neo Ocular
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Elated-Themes Neo Ocular neoocular allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Neo Ocular: from n/a through < 1.2.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-67920 is a critical vulnerability classified as a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) flaw in the Elated-Themes Neo Ocular WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 1.2. The vulnerability arises from improper control over the filename parameter used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary files to be included and executed by the web server. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server without authentication or user interaction, leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and its ease of exploitation over the network. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the nature of RFI vulnerabilities makes them attractive targets for attackers seeking to deploy web shells, escalate privileges, or pivot within compromised networks. The affected product, Neo Ocular, is a WordPress plugin developed by Elated-Themes, commonly used for enhancing website functionality and aesthetics. The vulnerability was reserved in December 2025 and published in January 2026, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No patches or updates are explicitly linked in the provided data, but upgrading to version 1.2 or later is implied as the remediation path. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices, particularly validating and sanitizing user inputs used in file inclusion functions to prevent remote code execution attacks.
Potential Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-67920 on European organizations can be severe, especially for those operating WordPress websites utilizing the Neo Ocular plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands, deploy malware, steal sensitive data, deface websites, or disrupt services. This compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and media, which rely heavily on WordPress for their web presence, face increased risks of data breaches and operational disruptions. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements make it a prime target for automated attacks and exploitation by cybercriminals or state-sponsored actors. Additionally, compromised websites can be leveraged to launch further attacks, distribute malware, or conduct phishing campaigns, amplifying the threat landscape. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the critical severity demands urgent attention to prevent potential exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2025-67920, European organizations should immediately verify if their WordPress installations use the Neo Ocular plugin and identify the plugin version. If running a vulnerable version prior to 1.2, organizations must upgrade to version 1.2 or later as soon as it becomes available. In the absence of an official patch, temporarily disabling or removing the plugin can reduce exposure. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious file inclusion attempts can provide an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also audit their web server and application logs for signs of exploitation attempts or unauthorized file inclusions. Applying strict input validation and sanitization on any user-supplied data used in file operations is critical to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on WordPress plugins can help identify and remediate such issues proactively. Finally, maintaining up-to-date backups and an incident response plan will aid in recovery if exploitation occurs.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain
CVE-2025-67920: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') in Elated-Themes Neo Ocular
Description
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Elated-Themes Neo Ocular neoocular allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Neo Ocular: from n/a through < 1.2.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-67920 is a critical vulnerability classified as a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) flaw in the Elated-Themes Neo Ocular WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 1.2. The vulnerability arises from improper control over the filename parameter used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary files to be included and executed by the web server. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server without authentication or user interaction, leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and its ease of exploitation over the network. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the nature of RFI vulnerabilities makes them attractive targets for attackers seeking to deploy web shells, escalate privileges, or pivot within compromised networks. The affected product, Neo Ocular, is a WordPress plugin developed by Elated-Themes, commonly used for enhancing website functionality and aesthetics. The vulnerability was reserved in December 2025 and published in January 2026, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No patches or updates are explicitly linked in the provided data, but upgrading to version 1.2 or later is implied as the remediation path. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices, particularly validating and sanitizing user inputs used in file inclusion functions to prevent remote code execution attacks.
Potential Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-67920 on European organizations can be severe, especially for those operating WordPress websites utilizing the Neo Ocular plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands, deploy malware, steal sensitive data, deface websites, or disrupt services. This compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and media, which rely heavily on WordPress for their web presence, face increased risks of data breaches and operational disruptions. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements make it a prime target for automated attacks and exploitation by cybercriminals or state-sponsored actors. Additionally, compromised websites can be leveraged to launch further attacks, distribute malware, or conduct phishing campaigns, amplifying the threat landscape. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the critical severity demands urgent attention to prevent potential exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2025-67920, European organizations should immediately verify if their WordPress installations use the Neo Ocular plugin and identify the plugin version. If running a vulnerable version prior to 1.2, organizations must upgrade to version 1.2 or later as soon as it becomes available. In the absence of an official patch, temporarily disabling or removing the plugin can reduce exposure. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious file inclusion attempts can provide an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also audit their web server and application logs for signs of exploitation attempts or unauthorized file inclusions. Applying strict input validation and sanitization on any user-supplied data used in file operations is critical to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on WordPress plugins can help identify and remediate such issues proactively. Finally, maintaining up-to-date backups and an incident response plan will aid in recovery if exploitation occurs.
Affected Countries
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- Patchstack
- Date Reserved
- 2025-12-15T09:59:49.436Z
- Cvss Version
- null
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 695f7a5ac901b06321d0bbe2
Added to database: 1/8/2026, 9:35:22 AM
Last enriched: 1/22/2026, 9:07:59 PM
Last updated: 2/6/2026, 4:05:06 AM
Views: 32
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