CVE-2025-58952: Neuronet Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-58952 Overview

CVE-2025-58952 is an unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Neuronet WordPress theme in versions prior to 1.14.0. The flaw is classified under CWE-98, which covers improper control of filename for include or require statements in PHP programs. Remote attackers can include arbitrary files from the server filesystem without authentication. Successful exploitation can lead to source code disclosure, sensitive configuration leakage, and potential code execution when combined with file upload primitives. The vulnerability was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on 2026-06-17.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can include arbitrary local files through the Neuronet theme, exposing sensitive data such as wp-config.php and potentially leading to remote code execution.

Affected Products

Neuronet WordPress theme versions prior to 1.14.0
WordPress sites running Neuronet < 1.14.0
Any deployment using the affected theme regardless of WordPress core version

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-17 - CVE-2025-58952 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-58952

Vulnerability Analysis

The Neuronet theme contains an unauthenticated Local File Inclusion flaw mapped to [CWE-98] (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program, also known as PHP Remote File Inclusion). The vulnerability exists in code paths that pass user-controlled input into PHP include, require, include_once, or require_once statements without sufficient validation. An attacker reaches the vulnerable endpoint over the network and supplies a crafted path parameter. PHP then resolves and includes the attacker-specified file from the local filesystem. The issue does not require authentication, which removes the barrier of credentialed access typical of theme administration features.

Root Cause

The root cause is unsanitized user input flowing into a PHP file inclusion function. The theme accepts a filename or path value from an HTTP request parameter and passes it directly to an include statement. There is no allowlist of permitted files, no normalization to strip traversal sequences such as ../, and no enforcement that the resolved path remains within the theme directory.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker sends an HTTP request to the vulnerable Neuronet theme endpoint with a manipulated parameter referencing a file outside the intended scope. Targets include WordPress configuration files such as wp-config.php, system files such as /etc/passwd, and log files that an attacker may use for log poisoning to escalate from file disclosure to code execution. The high attack complexity reflected in the CVSS vector suggests that specific conditions, such as parameter naming or path encoding, are required for reliable exploitation.

No verified public exploit code is available for this CVE. Refer to the Patchstack Neuronet Theme Vulnerability advisory for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-58952

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Neuronet theme PHP files containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or encoded null bytes
Access log entries referencing sensitive file paths like wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or PHP session files in query parameters
Unexpected outbound disclosure of WordPress database credentials or authentication keys following inbound theme requests
Repeated 200 OK responses to Neuronet endpoints with anomalously large response bodies indicating file content reflection

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests targeting Neuronet theme files with suspicious file parameters
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag path traversal patterns and absolute filesystem paths in query strings
Correlate inbound LFI request signatures with outbound responses containing PHP source markers such as <?php or DB_PASSWORD

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose request logging on the WordPress front-end and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform
Alert on any reference to wp-config.php within HTTP request parameters or response bodies
Monitor file integrity on the WordPress installation to detect tampering that may follow successful inclusion attacks

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-58952

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Neuronet theme to version 1.14.0 or later on all WordPress installations
Audit web server access logs for prior exploitation attempts targeting the theme
Rotate WordPress secrets, database credentials, and API keys if log review indicates suspected disclosure
Restrict access to the WordPress site behind a WAF until patching is verified

Patch Information

Upgrade the Neuronet theme to version 1.14.0 or later. Vendor remediation details are tracked in the Patchstack Neuronet Theme Vulnerability advisory. Verify the installed theme version under wp-content/themes/neuronet/style.css after the update.

Workarounds

Deploy WAF rules that block requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ..\) against theme endpoints
Set the PHP open_basedir directive to restrict file inclusion to the WordPress installation directory
Disable the Neuronet theme and switch to a maintained alternative until the patched version is deployed
Restrict filesystem permissions on wp-config.php and other sensitive files to the minimum required for the web server user

bash

# Configuration example: restrict PHP file access scope in php.ini
open_basedir = "/var/www/html/:/tmp/"
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off