CVE-2026-22506: Amoli Theme File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22506 Overview

CVE-2026-22506 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the Amoli 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 on the server. This 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 LFI vulnerability to read sensitive files from the web server, including WordPress configuration files containing database credentials, or leverage file inclusion chains to achieve code execution.

Affected Products

• Elated-Themes Amoli WordPress Theme version 1.0 and earlier
• WordPress installations using the Amoli theme

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-25 - CVE-2026-22506 published to NVD
• 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22506

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The Amoli WordPress theme fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to PHP's file inclusion functions such as include(), require(), include_once(), or require_once(). This allows an attacker to manipulate the file path parameter to include arbitrary files from the local filesystem.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication. While the attack complexity is considered high due to potential mitigating factors in certain server configurations, successful exploitation can result in complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation within the Amoli theme's PHP code. The theme accepts user-controlled input that is directly concatenated or passed to file inclusion functions without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to use directory traversal sequences (such as ../) or absolute file paths to escape the intended directory structure and access sensitive files.

Common vulnerable patterns include dynamic template loading, AJAX handlers that accept file parameters, or theme customization features that load files based on user preferences without adequate security controls.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and can be initiated by a remote, unauthenticated attacker. The attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing a manipulated file path parameter. By using path traversal sequences, the attacker can navigate outside the web root directory to include sensitive system files such as /etc/passwd, WordPress configuration files like wp-config.php, or log files that may contain sensitive information.

In more advanced scenarios, attackers may chain this LFI vulnerability with other techniques such as log poisoning (injecting PHP code into log files and then including them) or PHP wrapper exploitation to achieve remote code execution.

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Patchstack security advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22506

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ..%252f) targeting the Amoli theme endpoints
• Access log entries showing attempts to include sensitive files such as /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
• Unusual file access patterns in web server logs originating from theme-related URLs
• Error logs indicating failed file inclusion attempts with paths outside the web root

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP requests
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing encoded or plain directory traversal sequences
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files to detect unauthorized access
• Use intrusion detection systems with signatures for common LFI attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the web server to capture full request URIs and parameters
• Set up alerts for access attempts to sensitive files like wp-config.php from web-accessible paths
• Monitor PHP error logs for include/require failures that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement centralized log aggregation to correlate access patterns across multiple WordPress installations

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22506

Immediate Actions Required

• Disable or remove the Amoli theme if not critical to operations until a patched version is available
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal sequences
• Restrict file system permissions to limit the files accessible by the web server process
• Review and audit any custom theme configurations that may expose file inclusion parameters

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on 2026-03-26, users should check with Elated-Themes for an updated version of the Amoli theme that addresses this vulnerability. Monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for updates regarding patches and remediation guidance.

If no patch is available, consider switching to an alternative WordPress theme that has been recently audited for security issues.

Workarounds

• Use a WAF such as ModSecurity, Cloudflare, or Sucuri to filter malicious requests before they reach WordPress
• Implement PHP's open_basedir directive to restrict file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Disable allow_url_include in php.ini to prevent remote file inclusion escalation
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the web server user account to limit accessible files

# Configuration example - Add to .htaccess to block common LFI patterns
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (etc/passwd|proc/self|wp-config) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>