CVE-2026-22373: Fooddy Theme File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22373 Overview

CVE-2026-22373 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Fooddy WordPress theme developed by AncoraThemes. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters used in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server. This type of vulnerability (CWE-98) can lead to sensitive information disclosure, configuration file exposure, and potentially remote code execution when combined with other attack techniques.

Critical Impact
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to read sensitive files from the web server, potentially exposing database credentials, WordPress configuration files, and other critical system information. In certain scenarios, attackers may escalate this to achieve code execution.

Affected Products

AncoraThemes Fooddy WordPress Theme version 1.3.10 and earlier
WordPress installations using vulnerable Fooddy theme versions

Discovery Timeline

February 20, 2026 - CVE-2026-22373 published to NVD
February 24, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22373

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation in the Fooddy WordPress theme when handling user-supplied file paths in PHP include or require statements. The theme fails to properly sanitize filename parameters before using them in dynamic file inclusion operations, creating a Local File Inclusion attack surface.

When exploited over the network, an attacker can manipulate the vulnerable parameter to traverse directory structures and include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem. While the attack requires no privileges or user interaction, the high attack complexity suggests that certain conditions must be met for successful exploitation. The potential impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements (CWE-98). The Fooddy theme accepts user input that is directly or indirectly used to construct file paths without adequate validation, sanitization, or allowlisting. This allows attackers to inject path traversal sequences such as ../ to navigate outside the intended directory scope and include sensitive system files.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network, targeting WordPress installations with the vulnerable Fooddy theme. An attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing path traversal sequences in vulnerable parameters. When processed by the theme's PHP code, these sequences allow the inclusion of files outside the intended directory, such as:

WordPress configuration files (wp-config.php) containing database credentials
System files like /etc/passwd for user enumeration
PHP session files for session hijacking
Log files that may contain injected PHP code

The vulnerability mechanism involves manipulating file path parameters to include arbitrary local files. Path traversal sequences allow attackers to navigate directory structures and access files outside the intended scope. For complete technical details, refer to the Patchstack security advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22373

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/) targeting Fooddy theme endpoints
Unusual access patterns to WordPress theme files with encoded directory traversal characters
Error logs showing attempted file access outside the web root directory
Requests attempting to access sensitive files like wp-config.php or /etc/passwd through theme parameters

Detection Strategies

Monitor web server access logs for requests containing path traversal patterns targeting /wp-content/themes/fooddy/ paths
Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block LFI attack patterns
Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on requests with null byte injections or encoded traversal sequences
Review PHP error logs for "failed to open stream" messages indicating blocked file inclusion attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed logging for all requests to WordPress theme directories
Set up real-time alerting for suspicious request patterns matching LFI attack signatures
Monitor for unauthorized read access to sensitive configuration files
Track theme version information and alert when vulnerable versions are detected in your environment

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22373

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Fooddy WordPress theme to a patched version beyond 1.3.10 when available from AncoraThemes
If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling or replacing the Fooddy theme
Implement Web Application Firewall rules to block path traversal attempts
Review web server logs for signs of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Users should check for security updates from AncoraThemes for the Fooddy theme. Monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for patch availability and update notifications. Until a patch is available, implement the workarounds below to reduce risk.

Workarounds

Deploy WAF rules that block requests containing ../, encoded variants, and null bytes in theme-related parameters
Restrict file permissions on sensitive files like wp-config.php to prevent unauthorized reads
Consider using PHP open_basedir directive to restrict file access to the WordPress installation directory
Implement allowlist-based input validation for any user-controlled file paths if source code modification is possible

bash

# Apache .htaccess configuration to block path traversal attempts
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    # Block requests containing path traversal sequences
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e/) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>

# PHP configuration - restrict file access (add to php.ini or .htaccess)
# php_admin_value open_basedir /var/www/html/wordpress/