CVE-2025-68908 is a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability found in the temash Barberry PHP application, specifically due to improper control of filenames used in include or require statements. This vulnerability arises when user-supplied input is not properly validated or sanitized before being used in PHP's include or require functions, allowing attackers to specify remote files to be included and executed by the server. The affected versions include Barberry up to 2.9.9.87. Exploiting this flaw enables an unauthenticated attacker to remotely execute arbitrary PHP code on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 reflects a network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction needed (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a significant threat. The root cause is the lack of proper input validation and insufficient control over file inclusion paths, a common issue in PHP applications that handle dynamic includes. This vulnerability can be leveraged to upload and execute malicious payloads, pivot within the network, or disrupt services. The absence of official patches or updates in the provided data suggests that affected organizations must implement interim mitigations promptly. The vulnerability was reserved in late 2025 and published in early 2026, indicating recent discovery and disclosure.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68908 can be severe. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely without authentication, compromising sensitive data confidentiality, altering or destroying data integrity, and disrupting service availability. Organizations running Barberry on public-facing web servers are particularly vulnerable to remote attacks that can lead to data breaches, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within networks. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and energy that rely on PHP-based web applications may face operational disruptions and regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The high attack complexity somewhat limits exploitation to skilled attackers, but the lack of required privileges and user interaction lowers barriers significantly. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for rapid weaponization following public disclosure. European entities with limited patch management capabilities or legacy systems may experience prolonged exposure. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited as part of broader cyber-espionage or cybercrime campaigns targeting European infrastructure and businesses.

1. Immediately audit all Barberry installations and identify affected versions (<= 2.9.9.87). 2. Apply vendor-provided patches as soon as they become available; if no official patch exists, consider upgrading to a secure version or alternative software. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user inputs that influence file inclusion paths, enforcing whitelisting of allowed files or directories. 4. Configure PHP settings to disable remote file inclusion (e.g., setting 'allow_url_include' to 'Off' and 'allow_url_fopen' to 'Off'). 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block suspicious file inclusion attempts. 6. Restrict web server permissions to limit the execution and access scope of PHP processes, minimizing damage from potential exploitation. 7. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual requests or anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on dynamic file inclusion patterns. 9. Educate development teams on secure coding practices related to file inclusion and input handling. 10. Establish incident response plans tailored to web application compromise scenarios.