CVE-2026-22368 is a Remote File Inclusion (RFI) vulnerability found in the axiomthemes Redy WordPress theme, affecting versions up to and including 1.0.2. The vulnerability arises due to improper validation and control of filenames passed to PHP include or require statements. This flaw enables an attacker to supply a crafted URL or file path, causing the application to include and execute arbitrary remote PHP code. RFI vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow remote attackers to execute code on the server without authentication or user interaction, potentially leading to full system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 indicates high severity, with network attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact includes complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be considered exploitable. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for organizations to implement temporary mitigations or upgrade once fixes are released. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for websites using the Redy theme, which is built on PHP and commonly deployed in WordPress environments.

The exploitation of CVE-2026-22368 can lead to remote code execution on affected web servers, allowing attackers to take full control over the compromised system. This can result in data theft, website defacement, installation of backdoors, pivoting to internal networks, and disruption of services. Organizations relying on the Redy theme for their websites risk exposure of sensitive customer data, intellectual property, and operational disruption. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements make it highly attractive to attackers, increasing the likelihood of exploitation once public exploits emerge. The impact extends beyond individual websites to potentially affect entire hosting environments and connected infrastructure. Given the widespread use of PHP-based CMS platforms globally, the threat has broad implications for web security and trust.

1. Immediately upgrade the Redy theme to a version that addresses this vulnerability once available from the vendor. 2. If patches are not yet released, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious requests containing remote file inclusion patterns or unexpected URL parameters. 3. Disable allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen directives in the PHP configuration to prevent remote file inclusion. 4. Conduct code reviews to identify and sanitize all user inputs used in include/require statements, enforcing strict validation and whitelisting. 5. Restrict file permissions and isolate web server processes to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. 6. Monitor web server logs for unusual requests or errors indicative of attempted exploitation. 7. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) tools to detect and block malicious code execution attempts. 8. Educate development and operations teams about secure coding practices related to file inclusion and PHP configuration hardening.