CVE-2025-68905 is a vulnerability classified as Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in the PHP program within the jegtheme JNews - Pay Writer plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows an attacker to perform PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) by manipulating the filename parameter used in include or require statements without proper validation or sanitization. LFI vulnerabilities can lead to disclosure of sensitive files on the server, such as configuration files, password files, or application source code, and in some cases, can be leveraged to execute arbitrary PHP code if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 11.0.0. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating high severity, with the vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This means the attack is network-based, requires low privileges, no user interaction, but has high attack complexity. The impact covers confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially allowing attackers to read sensitive data, modify application behavior, or cause denial of service. No public exploits are known yet, but the vulnerability is published and should be addressed promptly. The lack of vendor patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate mitigation steps by administrators.

For European organizations, especially those in media, publishing, and content management sectors using WordPress with the JNews - Pay Writer plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, or customer information, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Integrity of website content and backend systems could be compromised, enabling attackers to inject malicious code or deface websites, damaging brand reputation. Availability could be impacted through denial-of-service conditions caused by exploitation attempts. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of JNews themes among news and media outlets, the potential for targeted attacks is considerable. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks, increasing overall risk exposure.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress installations for the presence of the JNews - Pay Writer plugin and identify affected versions (<= 11.0.0). 2. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available; monitor official jegtheme channels for announcements. 3. In the absence of patches, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to manipulate include/require parameters. 4. Restrict PHP include paths using open_basedir or disable allow_url_include in php.ini to limit file inclusion scope. 5. Harden server permissions to prevent unauthorized file access and execution. 6. Conduct regular security scans and monitor logs for anomalous file inclusion attempts. 7. Educate development and operations teams on secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities. 8. Consider isolating WordPress instances in segmented network zones to limit lateral movement if compromised.