CVE-2026-22344: FiveStar Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22344 Overview

CVE-2026-22344 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the FiveStar WordPress theme by Mikado-Themes. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename for include/require statements in PHP, allowing attackers to include local files on the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, configuration file exposure, and potentially remote code execution if combined with other attack techniques such as log poisoning or file upload vulnerabilities.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive files from the WordPress server, potentially exposing database credentials, configuration files, and other sensitive information that could lead to full site compromise.

Affected Products

FiveStar WordPress Theme versions up to and including 1.7
WordPress installations using vulnerable FiveStar theme versions
Web servers hosting affected WordPress sites

Discovery Timeline

2026-02-20 - CVE CVE-2026-22344 published to NVD
2026-02-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22344

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The FiveStar theme fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before using it in PHP include() or require() functions. When user-controlled data is passed directly to these file inclusion functions without adequate validation, attackers can manipulate the file path to include arbitrary local files from the server's filesystem.

The attack can be conducted remotely over the network, though the complexity is considered high as successful exploitation may require specific conditions or knowledge of the target environment. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the vulnerable WordPress installation.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and sanitization within the FiveStar theme's PHP code. The theme likely accepts user input through URL parameters, POST data, or other request mechanisms and uses this input to dynamically construct file paths for PHP include operations. Without proper filtering of directory traversal sequences (such as ../) and validation against an allowlist of permitted files, attackers can escape the intended directory and access files elsewhere on the server.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation without requiring any user interaction. An attacker would typically craft a malicious HTTP request containing directory traversal sequences to navigate the filesystem and include sensitive files. Common targets for LFI attacks include:

/etc/passwd - to enumerate system users
wp-config.php - to extract database credentials
Log files - which can be leveraged for log poisoning attacks leading to RCE
.htaccess files - to understand server configurations

The vulnerability allows attackers to read the contents of files that the web server process has permission to access. Depending on server configuration and file permissions, this could expose critical system and application data.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22344

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual HTTP requests containing directory traversal patterns such as ../, ..%2f, or ....// in URL parameters
Web server access logs showing requests attempting to access common LFI targets like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
Requests with encoded traversal sequences (URL encoding, double encoding, null bytes)
Multiple sequential requests testing various traversal depths from the same source IP

Detection Strategies

Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block directory traversal patterns in request parameters
Implement file integrity monitoring on WordPress core files and theme directories
Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on LFI attack signatures
Enable detailed WordPress and web server logging to capture suspicious request patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor web server access logs for anomalous requests targeting the FiveStar theme's endpoints
Set up alerts for requests containing common LFI payloads and traversal sequences
Track any unauthorized file access attempts through server-side logging
Implement real-time security monitoring for WordPress installations using security plugins

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22344

Immediate Actions Required

Update the FiveStar theme to a patched version if available from Mikado-Themes
If no patch is available, consider temporarily deactivating and removing the FiveStar theme
Implement WAF rules to block directory traversal attempts targeting the vulnerable theme
Review web server access logs for any evidence of exploitation attempts
Audit file permissions to minimize the impact of potential LFI exploitation

Patch Information

No official patch information is currently available in the vulnerability database. Organizations using the FiveStar theme should monitor the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for updates and contact Mikado-Themes directly for remediation guidance. It is strongly recommended to upgrade beyond version 1.7 when a fix becomes available.

Workarounds

Disable or remove the FiveStar theme until a security patch is released
Implement server-level input validation using ModSecurity or similar WAF solutions with rules blocking directory traversal patterns
Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file access to the WordPress directory structure only
Consider using virtual patching through WordPress security plugins like Patchstack or Wordfence

bash

# Configuration example - Apache ModSecurity rule to block LFI attempts
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS|ARGS_NAMES "@rx (?:(?:\.\./){2,}|(?:\.\.\\){2,})" \
    "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'Potential LFI Attack Detected'"

# PHP open_basedir restriction in php.ini or .htaccess
# php_value open_basedir /var/www/html/wordpress/