CVE-2026-27340: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2026-27340 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the AncoraThemes Apollo | Night Club, DJ Event WordPress Theme, affecting all versions through 1.3.1. The flaw was reported by Tran Nguyen Bao Khanh (VCI - VNPT Cyber Immunity) on December 3, 2025, and publicly disclosed by Patchstack on February 25, 2026. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (High), exploitable by unauthenticated network attackers with high attack complexity (Patchstack).

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program — 'PHP Remote File Inclusion'), manifesting as a Local File Inclusion flaw in the Apollo WordPress theme. An unauthenticated remote attacker can manipulate a filename parameter passed to a PHP include or require statement within the theme's code, causing the server to include and execute arbitrary local files. No authentication or user interaction is required, though the attack complexity is rated High, suggesting specific conditions or knowledge may be needed to trigger the vulnerability (Patchstack).

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to read sensitive local files on the server — including configuration files containing database credentials — potentially enabling full database takeover. Beyond data exposure, an attacker could execute malicious PHP code present on the server, leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation, unauthorized data modification, and disruption of site availability. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a HIGH level (Patchstack).

As of the time of disclosure, no public proof-of-concept exploit code has been identified, and there is no confirmed evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. The EPSS score is approximately 0.053%, indicating a low but non-negligible probability of exploitation in the near term. The vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Patchstack notes that vulnerabilities of this class and severity are frequently used in mass-exploit campaigns targeting WordPress sites at scale (Patchstack).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites using the Apollo | Night Club, DJ Event WordPress Theme version 1.3.1 or earlier via HTTP response headers, page source, or tools like WPScan.
2. Identify vulnerable parameter: Analyze the theme's PHP source code or observed HTTP requests to locate a filename parameter passed unsanitized to a PHP include() or require() statement.
3. Craft malicious request: Construct an unauthenticated HTTP request (GET or POST) targeting the vulnerable theme endpoint, injecting a path traversal sequence (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd) or a path to a known writable file containing PHP code as the filename parameter value.
4. Achieve file inclusion: Submit the crafted request; if successful, the server includes and outputs the targeted local file, exposing sensitive content such as wp-config.php (containing database credentials) or executing attacker-controlled PHP code.
5. Escalate access: Use exposed credentials or code execution to pivot to the database, create administrative accounts, or deploy a web shell for persistent access (Patchstack).

• Network: Unusual HTTP requests to theme-related PHP endpoints containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2F, %2e%2e%2f) or references to sensitive files (wp-config.php, /etc/passwd) in parameter values.
• Logs: Web server access logs showing requests with encoded traversal patterns or unexpected file paths in query strings targeting Apollo theme files; HTTP 200 responses to requests containing traversal payloads.
• File System: Presence of unexpected web shells or PHP files in the theme directory or writable WordPress directories (e.g., wp-content/uploads).
• Process: Unusual child processes spawned by the web server process (e.g., bash, curl, wget) following suspicious HTTP requests to theme endpoints.

As of the disclosure date, no official patch from AncoraThemes is available for the Apollo theme. Immediate recommended actions include disabling or removing the Apollo theme until a patched version is released. Patchstack has issued a virtual patching/mitigation rule for Patchstack-protected sites to block exploitation attempts. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules targeting path traversal and file inclusion patterns is advised. Site owners should monitor server logs for suspicious activity and contact AncoraThemes directly regarding patch availability (Patchstack).

The vulnerability was featured in the Wordfence Intelligence Weekly WordPress Vulnerability Report for the period of February 23 – March 1, 2026, indicating broad awareness within the WordPress security community. Patchstack, which coordinated the disclosure, classified it as high priority and noted its potential for use in mass-exploit campaigns. No significant additional vendor statements or notable researcher commentary beyond the initial disclosure have been identified (Wordfence, Patchstack).