CVE-2025-8142 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Soledad WordPress theme developed by pencidesign, specifically all versions up to and including 8.6.7. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-98, which relates to improper control of filenames used in include or require statements in PHP programs, commonly known as a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) or Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability. In this case, the flaw exists in the handling of the 'header_layout' parameter within the theme. Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the 'header_layout' parameter to include arbitrary PHP files from the server. This allows execution of any PHP code contained in those files, effectively enabling code execution on the web server. The attack does not require user interaction beyond authentication and can bypass access controls, potentially leading to full compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8, reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required at the Contributor level. Although no public exploits are currently known in the wild, the ease of exploitation and severity make it a critical concern for sites using the Soledad theme. The vulnerability can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive data, or escalate privileges, especially if the attacker can upload PHP files to the server or find existing files to include. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or where multiple users have contributor access. No official patches or updates have been linked yet, so mitigation currently relies on access control and monitoring.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Soledad theme, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution on web servers, resulting in data breaches, defacement, or full site takeover. This can compromise customer data, intellectual property, and internal systems connected to the web server. Given the Contributor-level access requirement, insider threats or compromised user accounts can be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The impact extends to availability if attackers deploy ransomware or disrupt services. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, and public services that rely on WordPress for their web presence are particularly vulnerable. The breach of confidentiality and integrity can also lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Additionally, the ability to bypass access controls undermines trust in the security of the web infrastructure. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as proof-of-concept exploits could emerge rapidly.

1. Immediately restrict Contributor-level user permissions to the minimum necessary and audit existing users for suspicious activity. 2. Disable or remove the Soledad theme if it is not actively used or replace it with a theme that is not vulnerable. 3. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests targeting the 'header_layout' parameter or unusual file inclusion attempts. 4. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block attempts to manipulate include parameters or inject PHP code. 5. If possible, isolate WordPress installations in containerized or sandboxed environments to limit impact of code execution. 6. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable quick restoration in case of compromise. 7. Follow up with the theme vendor for patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 8. Conduct security awareness training for users with Contributor or higher access to prevent credential compromise. 9. Employ file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to PHP files on the server. 10. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with elevated privileges to reduce risk of account takeover.