CVE-2026-27340: Apollo WordPress Theme LFI Vulnerability

CVE-2026-27340 Overview

CVE-2026-27340 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the AncoraThemes Apollo | Night Club, DJ Event WordPress Theme. The vulnerability stems from improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements, which allows attackers to include arbitrary local files from the server. This can lead to sensitive information disclosure, configuration file exposure, and potentially remote code execution if combined with other attack vectors.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive files on the WordPress server, including configuration files containing database credentials, potentially leading to full site compromise.

Affected Products

• AncoraThemes Apollo | Night Club, DJ Event WordPress Theme versions through 1.3.1
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable Apollo theme

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-05 - CVE CVE-2026-27340 published to NVD
• 2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-27340

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The Apollo WordPress theme fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before using it in PHP include or require statements. When user input is directly incorporated into file path constructions without adequate filtering, attackers can manipulate the path to traverse directories and include unintended files.

The vulnerability enables PHP Local File Inclusion, allowing an attacker to read the contents of arbitrary files on the server that are accessible to the web server process. This commonly includes WordPress configuration files (wp-config.php), system files like /etc/passwd, and potentially log files that could be leveraged for further attacks.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and sanitization on filename parameters passed to PHP's include() or require() functions within the Apollo theme. The theme accepts user-controlled input and uses it to dynamically construct file paths without implementing adequate security controls such as:

• Whitelist validation of allowed files
• Path canonicalization to prevent directory traversal
• Removal of dangerous characters like ../ sequences
• Restricting file extensions

Attack Vector

The attack can be conducted remotely over the network without authentication. An attacker crafts a malicious request containing path traversal sequences (such as ../) in the vulnerable parameter. When the theme processes this request, it includes the attacker-specified file, revealing its contents or potentially executing PHP code if the included file contains executable PHP.

The vulnerability manifests in the theme's file inclusion mechanism. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating URL parameters or POST data that feed into the vulnerable include statement. For technical implementation details, refer to the Patchstack security advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-27340

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing directory traversal patterns (../, ..%2f, ....//) targeting theme files
• Access to sensitive file paths like wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or log files through theme endpoints
• Web server logs showing repeated requests with path manipulation attempts to Apollo theme files
• Unexpected file read operations by the web server process on configuration or system files

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in requests
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing ../ sequences, null bytes, or encoded traversal patterns
• Deploy file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files
• Review WordPress security plugins for alerts related to suspicious theme activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on the WordPress installation to capture all requests to theme files
• Set up alerts for any access attempts to wp-config.php or system files from web server processes
• Monitor for anomalous file read operations that could indicate LFI exploitation
• Implement real-time log analysis to detect patterns associated with file inclusion attacks

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-27340

Immediate Actions Required

• Immediately disable or remove the Apollo | Night Club, DJ Event WordPress Theme if running version 1.3.1 or earlier
• Review WordPress access logs for any signs of exploitation attempts
• Check for unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files
• Consider temporarily switching to a different theme until a patched version is available

Patch Information

Organizations using the vulnerable Apollo theme should check with AncoraThemes for an updated version that addresses this vulnerability. Monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for updates on patch availability. Until a patch is released, implementing the workarounds below is strongly recommended.

Workarounds

• Disable the vulnerable theme and switch to an alternative WordPress theme
• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal patterns targeting the theme
• Use WordPress security plugins that can detect and block LFI attempts
• Restrict file system permissions to limit what files the web server can read
• Consider implementing PHP open_basedir restrictions to limit file access scope

# Apache .htaccess rules to block common LFI patterns
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.%2f|\.\.%5c) [NC,OR]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (etc/passwd|proc/self|wp-config\.php) [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]

# PHP open_basedir restriction (add to php.ini or .user.ini)
# open_basedir = /var/www/html/:/tmp/