CVE-2025-69049 is a vulnerability classified as 'Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program,' commonly referred to as a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability, found in the Elated-Themes Töbel WordPress theme. The vulnerability arises because the theme improperly validates or sanitizes input used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to manipulate the filename parameter to include arbitrary files from the server. This can lead to remote code execution if an attacker can include files containing malicious PHP code or sensitive information disclosure by including system files. The vulnerability affects Töbel versions up to and including 1.6. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.1, indicating high severity, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Despite the high attack complexity, no authentication or user interaction is needed, making it a significant threat. No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability's nature and impact make it a critical concern for sites using this theme. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation efforts. The vulnerability is typical of PHP applications that do not properly sanitize input used in file inclusion functions, a common vector for web application compromise.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for those running WordPress sites with the Töbel theme. Successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, website defacement, malware deployment, and potential pivoting to internal networks. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems can be severely impacted. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and finance, which often rely on WordPress for web presence, may face data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties under GDPR. The high attack complexity somewhat limits widespread exploitation but does not eliminate risk, particularly from skilled attackers or targeted campaigns. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests the window for proactive defense is still open, but the vulnerability's severity demands urgent attention.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting the PHP include/require paths by configuring open_basedir and disabling allow_url_include in PHP configurations to prevent remote file inclusion. 2. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious file inclusion attempts targeting the Töbel theme. 3. Monitor web server logs for unusual requests attempting to manipulate file inclusion parameters. 4. If possible, temporarily disable or replace the Töbel theme until a vendor patch is released. 5. Apply principle of least privilege to web server file permissions to limit the impact of potential file inclusion. 6. Conduct a thorough security audit of all WordPress plugins and themes to identify similar vulnerabilities. 7. Stay updated with Elated-Themes announcements and apply patches immediately once available. 8. Educate web administrators about the risks of file inclusion vulnerabilities and secure coding practices.