CVE-2025-69076 is a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability found in the AncoraThemes Modern Housewife WordPress theme, specifically affecting versions up to 1.0.12. The vulnerability arises from improper control of the filename used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to supply a malicious remote file path. When exploited, this flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the web server hosting the vulnerable theme without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 reflects a high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability is critical due to the ease of remote exploitation and the potential damage. The lack of available patches or updates at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention from administrators using this theme. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for WordPress sites using AncoraThemes Modern Housewife, which is a niche but potentially widely deployed theme in certain markets. The flaw is a classic example of insecure coding practices in PHP applications where user input is not properly sanitized before being used in file inclusion functions, leading to remote code execution risks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-69076 can be severe. Organizations running WordPress sites with the vulnerable Modern Housewife theme risk full server compromise, which can lead to data breaches involving sensitive customer or business information, defacement of websites, disruption of online services, and potential use of compromised servers as pivot points for further attacks within corporate networks. E-commerce platforms, media sites, and corporate blogs using this theme may suffer reputational damage and financial losses due to downtime or data theft. The vulnerability’s remote exploitation capability means attackers can operate from anywhere, increasing the threat landscape. Given the high WordPress market penetration in Europe, especially in countries with strong digital economies, the risk is amplified. Additionally, compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations means that exploitation could result in significant legal and financial penalties for affected organizations. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as automated scanning and exploitation tools could be used by attackers to compromise vulnerable sites en masse.

To mitigate CVE-2025-69076, European organizations should immediately assess their WordPress installations for the presence of the AncoraThemes Modern Housewife theme, particularly versions up to 1.0.12. If found, they should disable or remove the theme until a vendor patch or update is available. In the absence of an official patch, organizations can implement temporary mitigations such as restricting PHP include paths via server configuration to prevent remote file inclusion, and applying strict input validation and sanitization on any user-supplied data that could influence file inclusion logic. Deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious file inclusion attempts can provide an additional layer of defense. Regularly monitoring web server logs for unusual requests targeting include/require parameters is also recommended. Organizations should maintain up-to-date backups of their websites and server configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. Finally, educating web administrators and developers about secure coding practices and the risks of improper file inclusion can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.