CVE-2026-22478: FindAll Theme Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22478 Overview

CVE-2026-22478 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the FindAll WordPress theme developed by Elated-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 flaws where user-controlled input influences file inclusion operations without adequate validation or sanitization.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to read sensitive files from the server, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, and other confidential data. In certain configurations, this may lead to remote code execution.

Affected Products

• Elated-Themes FindAll WordPress Theme version 1.4 and earlier
• WordPress installations using the FindAll theme
• Web servers hosting affected FindAll theme installations

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-05 - CVE-2026-22478 published to NVD
• 2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22478

Vulnerability Analysis

The FindAll WordPress theme contains a Local File Inclusion vulnerability that occurs due to improper validation of user-supplied input in PHP include or require statements. When the theme processes certain requests, it fails to properly sanitize file path parameters, allowing attackers to manipulate the inclusion path and access arbitrary files on the server.

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in PHP applications are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged to:

1. Read sensitive configuration files (e.g., wp-config.php) containing database credentials
2. Access system files like /etc/passwd for user enumeration
3. Include log files that may contain injected malicious code
4. Potentially achieve Remote Code Execution through log poisoning or PHP wrapper exploitation

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper sanitization of user-controlled input before it is used in PHP's include(), require(), include_once(), or require_once() functions. The FindAll theme fails to implement adequate path validation, directory traversal prevention, or allowlist-based file inclusion controls.

PHP applications are particularly susceptible to this class of vulnerability when developers use dynamic file inclusion patterns without implementing proper input validation and path canonicalization.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious requests that manipulate file path parameters to traverse the directory structure and include arbitrary local files. Common exploitation techniques include:

• Using directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to escape the intended directory
• Leveraging PHP wrappers such as php://filter to read file contents
• Combining with log poisoning techniques where malicious PHP code is injected into log files and then included

The attack can be executed remotely by any user who can send HTTP requests to the vulnerable WordPress installation, making this a network-accessible vulnerability that requires no authentication.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22478

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing directory traversal patterns such as ../, ..%2f, or encoded variants targeting theme files
• Web server logs showing access attempts to the FindAll theme endpoints with suspicious path parameters
• Unexpected file access patterns in PHP error logs indicating attempts to include system files or sensitive WordPress configuration files

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for LFI attack signatures including path traversal patterns and PHP wrapper usage
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress and system configuration files
• Review Apache/Nginx access logs for requests containing ../ sequences or references to sensitive files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to alert on PHP wrapper patterns (e.g., php://filter, php://input) in request parameters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on web servers to capture full request URIs and parameters
• Configure SIEM rules to correlate multiple LFI attempt patterns from the same source IP
• Implement real-time alerting for successful access to sensitive file paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22478

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all WordPress installations using the Elated-Themes FindAll theme version 1.4 or earlier
• Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the vulnerable theme until a patched version is available
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block directory traversal and LFI attack patterns
• Review web server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Users should consult the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for the latest information on available patches and remediation guidance. Contact Elated-Themes for updates regarding a security patch for the FindAll theme.

Workarounds

• Deploy WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ..%252f) and PHP wrapper patterns
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Disable unnecessary PHP wrappers by configuring allow_url_include = Off and allow_url_fopen = Off in php.ini
• Implement server-level access controls to prevent access to sensitive system files

# PHP configuration hardening example
# Add to php.ini or .htaccess

# Disable URL-based file inclusion
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off

# Restrict PHP file access to specific directories
open_basedir = /var/www/html:/tmp

# Disable dangerous PHP functions (optional additional hardening)
disable_functions = exec,passthru,shell_exec,system,proc_open,popen