CVE-2026-4280 is a Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the Breaking News WP plugin for WordPress (doctorwp) affecting all versions up to 1.3. The brnwp_ajax_form AJAX endpoint lacks authorization checks and CSRF verification, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to overwrite the brnwp_theme option with directory traversal sequences. The plugin uses sanitize_text_field() which does not prevent directory traversal, and subsequently includes the brnwp_theme option value in an include() statement within the brnwp_show_breaking_news_wp() shortcode handler. This enables inclusion of arbitrary files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive data.

Successful exploitation allows an authenticated user with Subscriber-level access or higher to cause the plugin to include arbitrary files on the server via directory traversal. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive files such as /etc/passwd. The vulnerability does not impact integrity or availability directly but compromises confidentiality. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity impact with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and no user interaction required.

Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, restrict plugin usage to trusted users only and consider disabling or removing the Breaking News WP plugin if possible. Monitor for updates from the vendor doctorwp and apply any official patches promptly once available.