CVE-2026-25382: IdealAuto File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2026-25382 Overview

CVE-2026-25382 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the IdealAuto WordPress theme developed by jwsthemes. 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's filesystem. This weakness (CWE-98) can lead to sensitive information disclosure, potential remote code execution through log poisoning techniques, and complete site compromise.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive configuration files, access credentials, or chain with other attack vectors to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable WordPress installations.

Affected Products

• IdealAuto WordPress Theme versions prior to 3.8.6
• WordPress installations running vulnerable IdealAuto theme versions
• Websites using jwsthemes IdealAuto theme without the latest security patches

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-25 - CVE-2026-25382 published to NVD
• 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25382

Vulnerability Analysis

The IdealAuto WordPress theme contains a Local File Inclusion vulnerability that occurs due to insufficient validation and sanitization of user-controlled input before it is used in PHP file inclusion functions such as include(), include_once(), require(), or require_once(). When user input is passed directly to these functions without proper filtering, attackers can manipulate the file path to traverse directories and include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.

This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in WordPress environments because attackers can potentially access sensitive files such as wp-config.php (containing database credentials), .htaccess files, or system files like /etc/passwd. Additionally, if attackers can write to log files or upload files to the server, they may be able to chain this LFI with log poisoning or file upload vulnerabilities to achieve remote code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation in the IdealAuto theme where user-supplied parameters are incorporated into file paths without adequate sanitization. The PHP code fails to implement proper allowlisting of permitted file paths, does not strip directory traversal sequences (such as ../), and does not validate that the included file resides within an expected directory. This allows attackers to break out of the intended directory structure and access files anywhere on the filesystem that the web server process has permission to read.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no prior authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing directory traversal sequences or absolute file paths in vulnerable parameters. The attack targets publicly accessible theme endpoints that process file inclusion operations. Common exploitation techniques include:

• Using path traversal sequences (../) to navigate up the directory tree
• Including sensitive configuration files to extract credentials
• Reading PHP source code by leveraging PHP wrapper protocols where applicable
• Combining with log poisoning by injecting PHP code into accessible log files, then including those logs to achieve code execution

Due to the network-accessible nature and lack of authentication requirements, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to any WordPress site running the affected theme versions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25382

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing directory traversal patterns (../, ..%2f, ..%252f) targeting theme endpoints
• Web server access logs showing requests attempting to include system files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
• Error logs containing file inclusion failures or path-related warnings from the IdealAuto theme
• Unexpected file access patterns in web application firewall (WAF) logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall rules to detect and block directory traversal attempts in request parameters
• Implement file integrity monitoring on WordPress core files and theme directories
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on known LFI exploitation patterns
• Review web server access logs for suspicious requests targeting the IdealAuto theme endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for PHP errors and file operations on WordPress installations
• Monitor for anomalous file read operations by the web server process, particularly for sensitive files
• Set up alerting for repeated failed file inclusion attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Track outbound network connections from the web server that could indicate post-exploitation activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25382

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the IdealAuto WordPress theme to version 3.8.6 or later immediately
• Audit WordPress installations to identify all instances running vulnerable theme versions
• Review web server logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts
• Consider temporarily disabling the theme if immediate patching is not possible

Patch Information

The vulnerability is addressed in IdealAuto theme version 3.8.6. Website administrators should update through the WordPress dashboard or by downloading the latest version from the theme vendor. After updating, verify the installed version by checking the theme's style.css file or through the WordPress admin panel under Appearance > Themes.

For additional technical details and patch verification, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Implement web application firewall rules to block requests containing directory traversal sequences
• Restrict file system permissions to limit the web server's access to sensitive files
• Use PHP open_basedir configuration to restrict file operations to the WordPress directory
• Deploy server-side input validation at the web server level (Apache mod_security or Nginx rules) as an additional defense layer

# Example Apache mod_rewrite rule to block common LFI patterns
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|\.\.%252f) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (etc/passwd|wp-config\.php) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]