CVE-2025-68996 is a vulnerability classified as an improper control of filename for include/require statements in PHP programs, specifically affecting the WebCodingPlace Responsive Posts Carousel Pro plugin up to version 15.1. This vulnerability manifests as a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) flaw, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input controlling the filename parameter in include or require statements. As a result, an attacker with network access and high privileges can manipulate the input to include arbitrary files from the local filesystem, potentially leading to sensitive information disclosure or limited code execution. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects a high-severity issue with attack vector network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:H) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact metrics show high confidentiality impact (C:H), low integrity impact (I:L), and low availability impact (A:L). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature makes it a significant risk for web applications relying on this plugin, especially if attackers can trick privileged users into interacting with malicious content. The vulnerability was published on December 30, 2025, and is tracked by Patchstack and CVE databases. No official patches or exploit indicators are currently listed, but the affected plugin versions should be considered vulnerable until remediated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a considerable risk to web applications using the Responsive Posts Carousel Pro plugin, commonly deployed in WordPress environments. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files such as configuration files, credentials, or internal logs, compromising confidentiality. The ability to include local files may also allow attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code under certain conditions, threatening system integrity and availability. Given the requirement for high privileges and user interaction, the threat is more relevant in environments where privileged users can be socially engineered or tricked into triggering the exploit. The changed scope means that the impact can extend beyond the plugin itself, potentially affecting the entire web server or connected systems. This can lead to data breaches, service disruptions, and reputational damage. European organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) face increased compliance risks if sensitive data is exposed. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score underscores the urgency of addressing the vulnerability.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from WebCodingPlace and apply them promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, implement strict input validation and sanitization on any parameters controlling file inclusion, ideally restricting to a whitelist of allowed files or directories. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block Local File Inclusion attempts, including suspicious include/require patterns. 4. Limit the privileges of web server and application users to the minimum necessary, preventing high privilege exploitation. 5. Disable PHP functions that facilitate file inclusion or execution if not required, such as include(), require(), include_once(), and require_once(), or use PHP configuration directives to restrict file access (e.g., open_basedir). 6. Conduct security awareness training for privileged users to reduce the risk of social engineering or inadvertent triggering of the vulnerability. 7. Regularly audit web server logs for unusual file inclusion attempts or errors indicative of exploitation attempts. 8. Consider isolating vulnerable components in segregated environments to limit potential damage. 9. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to recover quickly if exploitation occurs.