CVE-2026-22376 is a vulnerability identified in the AncoraThemes Parkivia WordPress theme, affecting versions up to and including 1.1.9. The flaw arises from improper control over the filename used in PHP include or require statements, which allows an attacker to manipulate the input to include arbitrary files. This can lead to Remote File Inclusion (RFI) or Local File Inclusion (LFI), enabling attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, though it has a high attack complexity, indicating some conditions must be met for successful exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Exploitation could allow attackers to gain full control over the affected web server, steal sensitive data, modify website content, or disrupt services. No official patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is published and should be treated as critical by organizations using the affected theme. The issue stems from insecure coding practices in handling file inclusion in PHP, a common source of web application vulnerabilities.

The impact of CVE-2026-22376 is significant for organizations using the AncoraThemes Parkivia theme on their WordPress sites. Successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, website defacement, data manipulation, and potential pivoting to internal networks. This threatens confidentiality, integrity, and availability of web assets. Given the widespread use of PHP and WordPress themes globally, many small to medium businesses and possibly larger enterprises relying on this theme could be affected. The vulnerability could be leveraged to deploy malware, ransomware, or conduct further attacks such as data exfiltration or lateral movement within corporate networks. The lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts once details become widely known. Downtime and reputational damage are also likely consequences for affected organizations.

To mitigate CVE-2026-22376, organizations should immediately update the AncoraThemes Parkivia theme to a patched version once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should audit and harden PHP include/require statements by implementing strict input validation and sanitization to prevent arbitrary file inclusion. Disabling remote URL inclusion in PHP configurations (e.g., setting allow_url_include=Off) can reduce risk. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests targeting file inclusion vectors is recommended. Regularly monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns and scanning for indicators of compromise can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, restricting file permissions and isolating web server processes can limit the impact of a successful exploit. Organizations should also consider conducting security code reviews and penetration testing focused on file inclusion vulnerabilities in their web applications.