CVE-2025-67515: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-67515 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the Mikado-Themes Wilmër WordPress theme, classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement). It affects all versions of the Wilmër theme prior to 3.5 and was reported by researcher João Pedro S Alcântara (Kinorth) on November 17, 2025, with public disclosure on December 9–15, 2025. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (High) (Patchstack).

The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-supplied input used in PHP include/require statements within the Wilmër WordPress theme (CWE-98). An attacker with low privileges (Contributor or Developer role) can manipulate filename parameters to force the PHP interpreter to include arbitrary local files from the server's filesystem. This is a network-accessible attack requiring no user interaction and low attack complexity, making it straightforward to exploit once the required privilege level is obtained (Patchstack).

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to read arbitrary local files on the server, including sensitive configuration files such as wp-config.php (which contains database credentials), potentially enabling full database takeover. Beyond data exposure, LFI vulnerabilities can be chained with other techniques (e.g., log poisoning or file upload flaws) to achieve remote code execution, leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation, unauthorized data access, system modification, and service disruption (Patchstack).

As of the disclosure date, there is no public proof-of-concept exploit and no confirmed evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. The EPSS score is approximately 0.053%, indicating a low probability of exploitation in the near term. No threat actor attribution has been made, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Patchstack rates the exploitation priority as Low, though it notes that vulnerabilities of this class are sometimes used in mass-exploit campaigns targeting WordPress sites (Patchstack).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites using the Wilmër theme (versions < 3.5) via passive scanning tools (e.g., WPScan, Shodan) or by inspecting theme metadata in publicly accessible style.css files.
2. Obtain low-privilege access: Acquire a Contributor or Developer account on the target WordPress site through credential stuffing, phishing, or registration if open.
3. Identify vulnerable parameter: Locate the theme functionality that passes user-controlled input to a PHP include/require statement — typically a template or page builder parameter.
4. Craft LFI payload: Submit a crafted request with a path traversal sequence (e.g., ../../../../wp-config.php) in the vulnerable parameter to force inclusion of a sensitive local file.
5. Extract sensitive data: Review the server response for the contents of the included file (e.g., database credentials from wp-config.php) and use them for further lateral movement or full site compromise (Patchstack).

• Logs: WordPress and web server access logs showing requests with path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, %2e%2e%2f) in theme-related parameters; repeated requests to theme template endpoints from a single IP.
• File System: Unexpected access to sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or PHP session files as reflected in server access logs.
• Network: Unusual outbound connections from the web server following suspicious file inclusion requests, which may indicate chained exploitation (e.g., log poisoning leading to RCE).
• Process: Unexpected PHP processes spawning shell commands or network utilities if LFI has been escalated to code execution via log poisoning or similar techniques.

The primary remediation is to update the Wilmër WordPress theme to version 3.5 or later, which contains the fix for this vulnerability (Patchstack). If immediate patching is not feasible, consider temporarily disabling the theme and switching to a safe alternative until the update can be applied. Additional mitigations include deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block LFI attempts, restricting file inclusion to trusted paths, and validating all user-supplied input used in include/require statements. Monitor WordPress installations for suspicious file access activity.

Wordfence included CVE-2025-67515 in its weekly WordPress vulnerability report covering December 15, 2025 to January 4, 2026, indicating routine tracking by the WordPress security community (Wordfence). Patchstack, which coordinated the disclosure, rates the practical exploitation risk as low despite the high CVSS score, noting no impactful threat has been observed in the wild (Patchstack).