CVE-2026-22410: Dolcino Theme File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22410 Overview

CVE-2026-22410 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Dolcino 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. This type of vulnerability can lead to sensitive information disclosure, configuration file exposure, and potentially remote code execution when combined with other attack techniques.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this Local File Inclusion vulnerability to read sensitive server files, access WordPress configuration credentials, and potentially achieve code execution through log poisoning or other LFI-to-RCE techniques.

Affected Products

• Mikado-Themes Dolcino WordPress Theme version 1.6 and earlier
• WordPress installations using the Dolcino theme

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-05 - CVE CVE-2026-22410 published to NVD
• 2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22410

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The Dolcino WordPress theme fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to PHP's include() or require() functions. This allows an attacker to manipulate file path parameters to traverse the directory structure and include arbitrary files from the local file system.

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in WordPress themes are particularly dangerous because they can expose critical configuration files such as wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and authentication keys. Additionally, attackers may leverage this vulnerability to read server logs or other files that could be poisoned with malicious PHP code, escalating the attack to remote code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the theme's failure to implement proper input validation and sanitization on user-controllable parameters that are subsequently used in PHP file inclusion operations. The Dolcino theme does not adequately restrict or validate file paths, allowing directory traversal sequences (such as ../) to be processed by the application.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious requests that manipulate file inclusion parameters within the Dolcino theme. The attack typically involves:

1. Identifying vulnerable parameters that accept file path input within the theme's functionality
2. Injecting directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../) to navigate outside the intended directory
3. Specifying target files such as /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or server log files
4. Extracting sensitive information or achieving code execution through log poisoning techniques

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by unauthenticated attackers if the vulnerable functionality is exposed without authentication requirements. For detailed technical information and proof-of-concept details, refer to the Patchstack vulnerability database entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22410

Indicators of Compromise

• Web server access logs containing directory traversal patterns such as ../, ..%2f, or %2e%2e/ in requests to theme files
• Requests attempting to access sensitive files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or /proc/self/environ
• Unusual file read operations logged by file integrity monitoring systems
• Error logs showing failed attempts to include non-existent or restricted files

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block directory traversal patterns in request parameters
• Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests containing path traversal sequences targeting the Dolcino theme directory
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for PHP LFI exploitation attempts
• Enable file access auditing on sensitive configuration files and system files

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for requests containing ../ sequences or null byte characters targeting WordPress theme directories
• Monitor for unusual patterns of file read operations from the web server process
• Implement log analysis rules to correlate multiple failed file inclusion attempts from single IP addresses
• Review WordPress error logs for PHP warnings related to failed include() or require() operations

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22410

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove or disable the Dolcino theme immediately if no patch is available
• Implement WAF rules to block directory traversal attempts targeting the vulnerable theme
• Review server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts
• Audit WordPress installations to identify all instances of the Dolcino theme

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the Patchstack security advisory for updates regarding patches from Mikado-Themes. Until an official patch is released, consider replacing the Dolcino theme with an alternative that is not affected by this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Disable or remove the Dolcino theme and switch to a secure alternative WordPress theme
• Implement strict WAF rules to filter directory traversal patterns in all incoming requests
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file inclusion to specific directories
• Apply file system permissions to prevent the web server from reading sensitive configuration files outside the web root

# Configuration example - Restrict PHP open_basedir in Apache
# Add to .htaccess or Apache configuration
php_admin_value open_basedir /var/www/html/:/tmp/

# Alternative: Restrict in php.ini
# open_basedir = /var/www/html/:/tmp/