CVE-2026-22394: Evently Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22394 Overview

CVE-2026-22394 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Evently WordPress theme developed by Mikado-Themes. 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 filesystem.

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program), which describes scenarios where user-controlled input is passed to file inclusion functions without adequate sanitization. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to read sensitive configuration files, access credentials, or potentially achieve code execution by including files containing malicious content.

Critical Impact
Attackers can leverage this Local File Inclusion vulnerability to read sensitive server files, potentially exposing database credentials, WordPress configuration secrets, and other sensitive data stored on the web server.

Affected Products

Mikado-Themes Evently WordPress Theme version 1.7 and earlier
WordPress installations using the Evently theme

Discovery Timeline

2026-03-05 - CVE-2026-22394 published to NVD
2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22394

Vulnerability Analysis

The Evently WordPress theme contains improper input validation in its file inclusion mechanism. When user-supplied input is passed to PHP's include(), require(), include_once(), or require_once() functions without proper sanitization, attackers can manipulate the filename parameter to traverse directories and include arbitrary files from the local filesystem.

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in WordPress themes are particularly dangerous because they can expose critical files such as wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and authentication keys. Additionally, if attackers can upload files with malicious PHP code (through other means such as media uploads), the LFI vulnerability can be chained to achieve remote code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and sanitization for user-controllable parameters that are subsequently used in PHP file inclusion statements. The Evently theme fails to adequately restrict or validate the file paths being included, allowing directory traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory and access files elsewhere on the filesystem.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious requests that manipulate file path parameters accepted by the theme. By including directory traversal sequences, the attacker can navigate the filesystem and include files outside the intended web directory.

The typical attack flow involves:

Identifying a vulnerable parameter that accepts file paths
Injecting directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd on Linux systems)
Accessing sensitive configuration files or system files
Potentially chaining with file upload functionality to achieve code execution

For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Database.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22394

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual HTTP requests containing directory traversal patterns (../, ..%2f, ....//) targeting the Evently theme
Web server logs showing attempts to access sensitive files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other configuration files
Requests with encoded traversal sequences targeting theme endpoints
Unexpected file access patterns in PHP error logs

Detection Strategies

Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block directory traversal attempts in request parameters
Monitor web server access logs for suspicious patterns targeting the Evently theme directory
Deploy intrusion detection systems with signatures for PHP LFI attack patterns
Review WordPress activity logs for unusual file access attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging for the WordPress installation and associated web server
Configure alerting for requests containing common LFI payloads and traversal sequences
Monitor for unexpected changes to WordPress configuration files
Implement file integrity monitoring for critical WordPress files

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22394

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Evently WordPress theme to a patched version when available from Mikado-Themes
If no patch is available, consider temporarily deactivating the Evently theme and switching to an alternative
Implement WAF rules to block directory traversal attempts at the network perimeter
Review web server logs for any signs of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Organizations using the affected Evently WordPress theme (version 1.7 and earlier) should monitor the Mikado-Themes vendor communications for security updates. Check the Patchstack vulnerability database for the latest remediation guidance.

Workarounds

Implement server-side input validation to reject requests containing directory traversal sequences
Configure PHP open_basedir restrictions to limit file access to the WordPress directory
Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules blocking common LFI attack patterns
Consider using WordPress security plugins that provide real-time file inclusion attack protection

bash

# Apache .htaccess configuration to block common LFI patterns
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.\\) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (etc/passwd|boot\.ini|win\.ini) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]

# PHP open_basedir restriction in php.ini
# open_basedir = /var/www/html/wordpress/