CVE-2026-39523: Solene Core Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-39523 Overview

CVE-2026-39523 is an unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Solene Core WordPress plugin in versions up to and including 2.3.2. The flaw is classified under CWE-98, which covers improper control of filename for include or require statements in PHP programs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can abuse the vulnerability to include arbitrary local files into the PHP execution context. Successful exploitation can lead to disclosure of sensitive configuration data, source code, or execution of attacker-controlled content when combined with file upload primitives.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can include arbitrary local files through the Solene Core plugin, exposing sensitive data and potentially enabling code execution on the WordPress host.

Affected Products

Solene Core WordPress plugin, versions <= 2.3.2
WordPress installations with the Solene Core plugin enabled
PHP environments hosting affected plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-17 - CVE-2026-39523 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-39523

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Solene Core plugin's handling of file path parameters used in PHP include or require statements. The plugin accepts user-supplied input and passes it into a file inclusion function without sufficient validation or canonicalization. An unauthenticated attacker crafts an HTTP request with a manipulated path parameter to traverse the filesystem and include arbitrary files readable by the PHP process.

Included PHP files execute within the WordPress process context. Non-PHP files such as wp-config.php content, environment files, or log files are disclosed through the rendered response. The CWE-98 classification confirms the root cause as improper control of the filename passed to an inclusion directive.

Root Cause

The plugin fails to sanitize and validate the filename input before passing it to an inclusion sink. Path traversal sequences such as ../ and absolute paths reach the inclusion function. The absence of an allowlist of permitted templates, combined with missing authentication checks, allows any visitor to trigger the inclusion logic.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends a single HTTP GET or POST request to the vulnerable endpoint exposed by the Solene Core plugin. The request supplies a malicious path value referencing a sensitive file on the server. The PHP engine then resolves and includes the target file, returning its parsed output or executed code to the attacker. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-39523

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Solene Core plugin endpoints containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or absolute paths like /etc/passwd.
Web server access logs showing unauthenticated requests referencing wp-config.php, /proc/self/environ, or PHP session files via plugin parameters.
Unexpected PHP errors referencing include() or require() failures tied to the solene-core plugin path.
Outbound connections or new files written by the www-data or PHP-FPM user immediately following suspicious plugin requests.

Detection Strategies

Inspect WordPress access logs for requests targeting Solene Core plugin handlers with file-like query parameters.
Deploy WAF signatures that flag path traversal patterns and known LFI payloads against /wp-content/plugins/solene-core/ URIs.
Correlate plugin requests with file system telemetry on the PHP host to identify reads of sensitive files such as wp-config.php.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose access logging on the WordPress front end and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and search.
Alert on repeated 200-response requests to Solene Core endpoints from a single source containing traversal characters.
Monitor PHP error logs for inclusion failures referencing paths outside the plugin directory.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-39523

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Solene Core plugin in any WordPress installation running version 2.3.2 or earlier until a patched release is verified.
Apply the vendor patch as soon as a version above 2.3.2 is published by the plugin maintainer.
Restrict access to the WordPress site via IP allowlisting or authentication at the reverse proxy if immediate patching is not possible.
Audit the host filesystem and wp-config.php for signs of disclosure, and rotate any database credentials or secrets that may have been exposed.

Patch Information

Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the authoritative remediation guidance and any fixed version availability. The advisory identifies all releases through 2.3.2 as vulnerable.

Workarounds

Block requests containing path traversal sequences at the WAF or reverse proxy layer before they reach PHP.
Configure PHP open_basedir to constrain file inclusion to the WordPress document root and plugin directories.
Set allow_url_include = Off and allow_url_fopen = Off in php.ini to reduce the impact of related inclusion abuse.

bash

# Configuration example: php.ini hardening to limit LFI impact
open_basedir = "/var/www/html:/tmp"
allow_url_include = Off
allow_url_fopen = Off
disable_functions = "exec,passthru,shell_exec,system,proc_open,popen"