CVE-2026-28061: Tiger Claw File Inclusion Vulnerability

CVE-2026-28061 Overview

CVE-2026-28061 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the ThemeREX Tiger Claw WordPress theme. 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 can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, source code disclosure, and potentially escalate to remote code execution through log poisoning or other advanced techniques.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this LFI vulnerability to read sensitive server files, potentially exposing database credentials, configuration data, and other protected information from WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the Tiger Claw theme.

Affected Products

• ThemeREX Tiger Claw WordPress Theme version 1.1.14 and earlier
• WordPress websites utilizing the Tiger Claw theme (tiger-claw)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-05 - CVE-2026-28061 published to NVD
• 2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-28061

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The Tiger Claw theme fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to PHP's file inclusion functions. When an attacker can manipulate the filename parameter, they can traverse directory structures and include files outside the intended scope, potentially accessing sensitive system files like /etc/passwd, WordPress configuration files (wp-config.php), or application logs.

The attack can be conducted remotely over the network, though exploitation requires specific conditions to be met, resulting in higher attack complexity. Successful exploitation does not require authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible WordPress installations.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-controllable parameters that influence PHP include or require statements within the Tiger Claw theme. The theme code likely accepts a filename or template path parameter without properly filtering path traversal sequences (such as ../) or validating that the requested file exists within an allowed directory. This allows attackers to break out of the intended directory context and access arbitrary files on the system.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences targeting vulnerable theme endpoints. The attack flow typically involves:

1. Identifying a vulnerable parameter that accepts file path input
2. Injecting path traversal sequences to navigate the filesystem
3. Targeting sensitive files such as wp-config.php or system configuration files
4. Extracting sensitive information or chaining with other techniques for code execution

The attacker may leverage techniques such as:

• Directory traversal using sequences like ../../../ to access files outside the web root
• PHP wrapper abuse (e.g., php://filter) to read source code
• Log file poisoning combined with LFI to achieve code execution

For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-28061

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing path traversal patterns (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e/) targeting Tiger Claw theme endpoints
• Web server access logs showing attempts to access sensitive files like /etc/passwd or wp-config.php
• Requests with PHP wrapper schemes such as php://filter or php://input in URL parameters
• Unexpected file read operations from the web server process outside normal application directories

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in requests to WordPress theme files
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing suspicious patterns targeting the tiger-claw theme directory
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files to detect unauthorized access attempts
• Utilize intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for LFI attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for the WordPress installation and web server to capture detailed request information
• Configure alerts for access attempts to sensitive system files from web application contexts
• Monitor for unusual PHP file read operations using security tools or endpoint detection solutions
• Implement real-time log analysis to detect exploitation attempts as they occur

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-28061

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Tiger Claw theme to a patched version if one is available from ThemeREX
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling or removing the Tiger Claw theme
• Implement WAF rules to block path traversal attacks at the network perimeter
• Review web server configurations to restrict file access to necessary directories only
• Audit WordPress installations for any signs of compromise

Patch Information

Users should check with ThemeREX for an official security update addressing this vulnerability. Monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for updates on patch availability.

Workarounds

• Implement strict input validation using a Web Application Firewall to filter path traversal attempts
• Configure PHP open_basedir to restrict file access to the WordPress installation directory
• Set restrictive file permissions on sensitive files like wp-config.php to prevent web server read access
• Consider using a security plugin that provides virtual patching capabilities for WordPress themes

# Example: Restrict PHP open_basedir in php.ini or .htaccess
# Add to php.ini:
open_basedir = /var/www/html/wordpress/

# Or in Apache .htaccess:
php_admin_value open_basedir /var/www/html/wordpress/

# Set restrictive permissions on wp-config.php
chmod 400 /var/www/html/wordpress/wp-config.php
chown www-data:www-data /var/www/html/wordpress/wp-config.php