CVE-2026-28022: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2026-28022 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the ThemeREX Foodie WordPress theme, caused by improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements. It affects all versions of the Foodie theme up to and including version 1.14, and was published on March 2–5, 2026, with discovery credited to Tran Nguyen Bao Khanh of VCI - VNPT Cyber Immunity. The vulnerability was assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (High), exploitable by unauthenticated remote attackers under high attack complexity conditions (Patchstack, Feedly).

The root cause is classified as CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program), where user-supplied input is insufficiently validated before being passed to PHP file inclusion functions. An unauthenticated attacker can craft a malicious network request that manipulates the filename parameter to include arbitrary local files on the server. No user interaction is required, though the attack complexity is rated High, suggesting specific conditions or knowledge of the target environment may be needed. No public proof-of-concept code has been identified at this time (Patchstack, Feedly).

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files on the web server, potentially exposing sensitive files such as WordPress configuration files (wp-config.php) containing database credentials, which could lead to complete database takeover. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated High, meaning a successful attack could result in full compromise of the web application and underlying server. Lateral movement within the hosting environment is possible if credentials or sensitive configuration data are exposed (Patchstack).

As of the time of reporting, no public proof-of-concept exploit code exists 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 has noted that vulnerabilities of this class and severity are frequently used in mass-exploit campaigns targeting WordPress sites (Patchstack, Feedly).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites using the ThemeREX Foodie theme (version ≤ 1.14) via passive scanning tools (e.g., WPScan, Shodan) or by inspecting theme metadata in publicly accessible style.css files.
2. Identify vulnerable parameter: Analyze the theme's PHP source code or observed HTTP responses to locate the file inclusion parameter that accepts user-controlled input without proper sanitization.
3. Craft malicious request: Send a crafted HTTP GET or POST request to the vulnerable endpoint, supplying a path traversal sequence (e.g., ../../../../wp-config.php) as the filename parameter value.
4. Extract sensitive data: If successful, the server will include and render the contents of the targeted local file (e.g., wp-config.php), exposing database credentials, authentication keys, and other sensitive configuration data.
5. Escalate access: Use extracted credentials to access the WordPress database directly or authenticate to the WordPress admin panel, enabling further compromise such as webshell upload or full site takeover (Patchstack).

• Network: Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2F, ....//) in query parameters or POST body fields targeting the Foodie theme endpoints.
• Logs: Web server access logs showing requests with encoded path traversal patterns or references to sensitive files (e.g., wp-config.php, /etc/passwd) in parameter values; PHP error logs indicating failed or successful file inclusion of unexpected paths.
• File System: Unexpected new files (e.g., webshells) in the WordPress theme or upload directories; modification timestamps on core WordPress files that do not align with legitimate updates.
• Process: Unusual PHP child processes spawned by the web server process accessing files outside the WordPress document root.

As of the disclosure date, no official patch has been released by ThemeREX for the Foodie theme. Site administrators should immediately consider deactivating or replacing the theme until a patched version (beyond 1.14) becomes available. Patchstack has issued a virtual patching/mitigation rule for subscribers to block exploitation attempts in the interim. Additional workarounds include disabling PHP's allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen directives if not required, deploying Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block LFI patterns, and implementing strict server-side input validation (Patchstack).

The vulnerability was highlighted in Wordfence's weekly WordPress vulnerability report for the period of March 2–8, 2026, indicating it received attention from the broader WordPress security community. Patchstack, which discovered and disclosed the vulnerability, 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).