CVE-2026-25464: Jannah WordPress Theme LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2026-25464 Overview

CVE-2026-25464 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the TieLabs Jannah WordPress theme. This vulnerability arises from improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements, allowing attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program).

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to read sensitive files, potentially leading to information disclosure, configuration exposure, or code execution through log poisoning techniques.

Affected Products

• TieLabs Jannah WordPress Theme versions through 7.6.3
• WordPress installations running vulnerable Jannah theme versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-25 - CVE-2026-25464 published to NVD
• 2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25464

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper validation and sanitization of user-controlled input that is subsequently used in PHP file inclusion statements. The Jannah theme fails to adequately restrict the filenames that can be passed to include() or require() functions, enabling attackers to traverse directory structures and include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.

Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in WordPress themes are particularly dangerous because they can expose sensitive configuration files such as wp-config.php, which contains database credentials, authentication keys, and other critical security parameters. Additionally, if combined with log poisoning or other file upload techniques, LFI can escalate to Remote Code Execution.

Root Cause

The root cause is inadequate input validation in PHP include/require statements within the Jannah theme. User-supplied input is passed to file inclusion functions without proper sanitization to prevent directory traversal sequences (such as ../) or validation against an allowlist of permitted files. This violates the principle of least privilege for file access operations.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences to manipulate the file inclusion parameter. By navigating outside the intended directory structure, attackers can force the application to include and execute arbitrary PHP files or disclose the contents of sensitive configuration files.

The exploitation typically involves manipulating URL parameters or form inputs that are processed by the theme's PHP code, injecting directory traversal patterns to reach files outside the web root or within other restricted directories on the server.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25464

Indicators of Compromise

• Web server logs containing path traversal patterns such as ../, ..%2f, or encoded variations targeting theme files
• Unusual file access attempts targeting /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or other sensitive system files
• HTTP requests with suspicious file path parameters directed at Jannah theme endpoints
• Evidence of log poisoning attempts where malicious PHP code appears in access logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal sequences in request parameters
• Implement file integrity monitoring on WordPress installation directories to detect unauthorized access attempts
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on LFI attack patterns targeting WordPress themes
• Enable verbose logging on web servers to capture full request URIs and parameters for forensic analysis

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing directory traversal patterns targeting the Jannah theme
• Set up alerts for any access attempts to sensitive files from web application contexts
• Review server error logs for file inclusion failures that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Track file read operations on the server to identify anomalous access patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25464

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Jannah WordPress theme to the latest patched version as soon as it becomes available from TieLabs
• If an update is not immediately available, consider temporarily disabling or replacing the vulnerable theme
• Implement WAF rules to block path traversal attempts targeting your WordPress installation
• Audit your WordPress installation for any signs of compromise

Patch Information

Users should monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for official patch information from TieLabs. Update to a version higher than 7.6.3 once available from the vendor.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically blocking LFI and path traversal attacks
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file access to the WordPress directory
• Disable the vulnerable theme component if the specific vulnerable functionality can be identified and isolated
• Consider using a security plugin that provides virtual patching capabilities for WordPress vulnerabilities

# Example: Restrict PHP open_basedir in Apache configuration
<Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/themes/jannah">
    php_admin_value open_basedir "/var/www/html/"
</Directory>

# Example: ModSecurity rule to block path traversal
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains ../" "id:1001,phase:1,deny,status:403,msg:'Path Traversal Attempt Blocked'"