CVE-2025-60229 Overview
CVE-2025-60229 is a PHP Object Injection vulnerability in the Themeton Lagom WordPress theme. The flaw stems from deserialization of untrusted data and affects all versions of Lagom up to and including 2.0. Attackers can exploit this issue remotely over the network without authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution, data tampering, and full compromise of the underlying WordPress installation. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject malicious PHP objects, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution and full site takeover on WordPress sites running Themeton Lagom.
Affected Products
- Themeton Lagom WordPress theme (all versions through 2.0)
- WordPress sites using vulnerable Lagom theme installations
- Any hosting environment serving the affected theme
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-17 - CVE CVE-2025-60229 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-60229
Vulnerability Analysis
The Lagom theme passes attacker-controlled input into a PHP deserialization routine without validation. PHP's unserialize() function reconstructs objects from serialized strings and invokes magic methods such as __wakeup() and __destruct() on the resulting objects. When attacker-supplied data reaches this function, an attacker can craft serialized payloads that instantiate arbitrary classes already loaded by WordPress, the theme, or installed plugins. Chaining these classes through their magic methods produces a property-oriented programming (POP) chain. The end result ranges from arbitrary file read and write to remote code execution, depending on the available gadget chains in the WordPress runtime environment.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper handling of untrusted serialized input. The theme accepts serialized data from a request parameter, cookie, or stored option and passes it directly to unserialize() without integrity verification or type restriction. PHP does not sandbox object reconstruction, so any class autoloaded by WordPress becomes a potential gadget. The absence of an allow-list, signed payload, or migration to json_decode() makes the deserialization path trivially abusable.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends an HTTP request containing a crafted serialized PHP object to a vulnerable endpoint exposed by the Lagom theme. Once the payload is deserialized, the engineered POP chain executes, leveraging gadgets from WordPress core, plugins, or PHP extensions. Public WordPress POP chain catalogs make weaponization straightforward against unpatched installations. See the Patchstack advisory for additional technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-60229
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests containing serialized PHP patterns such as O: followed by a digit and class name, or a: for arrays, in query strings, POST bodies, or cookies.
- Unexpected PHP processes spawning shell commands, writing to wp-content/uploads, or modifying theme and plugin files.
- New or modified administrator accounts in the WordPress wp_users table without corresponding audit log entries.
- Outbound network connections from the web server to unfamiliar hosts shortly after suspicious requests to Lagom endpoints.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server and WordPress access logs for serialized object signatures targeting Lagom theme endpoints.
- Deploy web application firewall rules that flag and block PHP serialization markers in untrusted input.
- Monitor file integrity across wp-content/themes/lagom/ and the broader WordPress installation for unauthorized changes.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward web server, PHP error, and WordPress audit logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation across request, process, and file events.
- Alert on PHP worker processes invoking system, exec, passthru, or writing executable content into web-accessible directories.
- Track creation of scheduled tasks, cron jobs, and new WordPress options containing serialized payloads.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-60229
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running the Themeton Lagom theme and inventory the installed version.
- Apply the vendor-supplied patched version once released by Themeton; consult the Patchstack advisory for fix availability.
- Restrict access to administrative and theme-specific endpoints behind authentication or IP allow-lists until patched.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials, secret keys in wp-config.php, and any API tokens stored on affected sites.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects Lagom versions through 2.0. Site operators should monitor the Patchstack advisory and the Themeton vendor channel for an official fixed release, then upgrade immediately upon availability.
Workarounds
- Temporarily disable or switch away from the Lagom theme on production sites until a patched version is installed.
- Deploy WAF rules that block requests containing PHP serialization patterns (O:\d+:, a:\d+:{) in user-supplied parameters.
- Harden PHP by disabling dangerous functions such as exec, system, passthru, and proc_open via disable_functions in php.ini where feasible.
- Enforce least privilege on the web server user so that PHP processes cannot modify theme, plugin, or core files.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
