CVE-2026-22401 is a vulnerability in the pavothemes Freshio PHP theme, affecting versions up to 2.4.2. The issue arises from improper control over the filename parameter used in PHP include or require statements, which enables Remote File Inclusion (RFI). RFI vulnerabilities allow attackers to supply a remote URL as input, causing the server to include and execute malicious code hosted externally. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, remote code execution, or server compromise. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction needed, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality impact without affecting integrity or availability. Although no public exploits are reported yet, the nature of RFI vulnerabilities makes them attractive targets for attackers. The Freshio theme is commonly used in PHP-based e-commerce and content management systems, which often handle sensitive customer data and business logic. Without proper input validation or sanitization, attackers can manipulate the include path to execute arbitrary PHP code or access sensitive files. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure coding practices around dynamic file inclusion in PHP applications.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2026-22401 could result in unauthorized disclosure of sensitive customer data, intellectual property, or configuration files, leading to privacy violations and regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR). Attackers could also execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially pivoting to further compromise internal networks or deploy malware such as ransomware. E-commerce platforms using Freshio themes may face service disruptions or reputational damage if customer trust is eroded. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation and lack of required privileges increase the risk of widespread attacks, especially against publicly accessible web servers. Organizations in sectors like retail, finance, and government that rely on PHP-based web infrastructure are particularly vulnerable. The impact extends beyond confidentiality, as successful exploitation may facilitate lateral movement or persistent access, complicating incident response and recovery efforts.

1. Apply patches or updates from pavothemes as soon as they become available to fix the vulnerability in Freshio. 2. If patches are not yet available, implement temporary mitigations such as disabling remote file inclusion in PHP configuration (e.g., setting 'allow_url_include' to 'Off'). 3. Restrict and validate all user inputs that influence file inclusion paths, employing whitelisting of allowed files or directories. 4. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests containing remote file inclusion attempts or unusual URL parameters. 5. Conduct code reviews and security testing focusing on dynamic include/require statements to identify similar vulnerabilities. 6. Monitor web server logs for anomalous requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Harden PHP configurations by disabling unused functions and enabling safe mode features where applicable. 8. Educate developers on secure coding practices related to file handling and input validation to prevent recurrence.