CVE-2025-58894: Good Mood Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-58894 Overview

CVE-2025-58894 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the axiomthemes Good Mood WordPress theme. The flaw stems from improper control of filenames passed to PHP include or require statements, classified as [CWE-98]. Attackers can manipulate file path parameters to load arbitrary local files through the web server. The vulnerability affects Good Mood versions up to and including 1.16. Successful exploitation can lead to disclosure of sensitive configuration files, source code, or execution of attacker-controlled PHP content already present on the server.

Critical Impact
Network-based attackers without authentication can include arbitrary local files, potentially achieving remote code execution on WordPress sites running the affected theme.

Affected Products

axiomthemes Good Mood WordPress theme versions through 1.16
WordPress installations using the good-mood theme
Sites running the vulnerable theme on any PHP version

Discovery Timeline

2025-12-18 - CVE-2025-58894 published to NVD
2026-04-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-58894

Vulnerability Analysis

The Good Mood theme contains a PHP file inclusion flaw where user-supplied input reaches an include or require statement without sufficient validation. Although the CVE record describes the weakness as PHP Remote File Inclusion, the realized impact is Local File Inclusion. Attackers supply a crafted filename parameter that the theme passes directly into the inclusion call. The PHP interpreter then loads and executes the referenced file in the context of the WordPress application.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper control of the filename argument passed to PHP include/require statements [CWE-98]. The theme fails to enforce an allowlist of permitted files, fails to sanitize directory traversal sequences, and fails to constrain inclusion to a safe base directory. Any request parameter that influences the inclusion path becomes an attack surface.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker crafts an HTTP request targeting the vulnerable theme endpoint with a manipulated file parameter. The server then includes the attacker-specified path, which may resolve to configuration files such as wp-config.php, uploaded files containing PHP payloads, or log files poisoned with executable content. The high attack complexity reflects environmental conditions required for full exploitation, such as specific file paths or PHP configuration settings.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Theme Vulnerability advisory for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-58894

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or URL-encoded variants like %2e%2e%2f targeting Good Mood theme endpoints
Unexpected access patterns referencing sensitive paths such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or PHP session files
Web server log entries showing query parameters that resolve to local filesystem paths within /wp-content/themes/good-mood/
Outbound network connections from the PHP worker process following suspicious inclusion requests

Detection Strategies

Inspect web access logs for requests targeting Good Mood theme files with file-path-like parameter values
Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that block directory traversal patterns and null byte injection in query parameters
Monitor PHP error logs for include/require warnings referencing unexpected file paths
Correlate file read events on sensitive configuration files with preceding HTTP requests to the vulnerable theme

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress access logs and PHP error logs to a centralized SIEM for query-based hunting
Alert on any process spawned by the web server user that deviates from a known-good baseline
Track file integrity on wp-content/uploads/ and theme directories to detect payload staging

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-58894

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running the axiomthemes Good Mood theme version 1.16 or earlier
Disable or remove the Good Mood theme until a patched version is available and verified
Restrict access to the WordPress site behind authentication or IP allowlisting where feasible
Rotate WordPress secrets and database credentials if exploitation is suspected

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the advisory indicates the vulnerability affects Good Mood from unspecified versions through 1.16. Consult the Patchstack advisory for the latest fixed version information and apply the vendor update once released.

Workarounds

Configure the WAF to block requests containing path traversal sequences targeting theme files
Set PHP open_basedir to constrain file access to the WordPress installation directory
Disable allow_url_include and allow_url_fopen in php.ini to limit inclusion attack scope
Switch to an alternate WordPress theme until a security-patched release of Good Mood is published

bash

# Configuration example - php.ini hardening
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"