CVE-2026-57796: VLThemes Leedo Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-57796 Overview

CVE-2026-57796 is a PHP Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the VLThemes Leedo WordPress theme. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.0.0. The theme fails to properly control filenames used in PHP include or require statements, allowing an attacker to load arbitrary local files through the PHP interpreter. Successful exploitation can expose sensitive configuration data, source code, or lead to code execution when combined with file upload primitives. The weakness is tracked as CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can include arbitrary local files through the vulnerable PHP include mechanism, exposing sensitive data and potentially achieving remote code execution.

Affected Products

VLThemes Leedo WordPress theme, versions up to and including 3.0.0
WordPress installations using the Leedo theme as an active or inactive theme
Sites where the vulnerable include handler remains reachable over HTTP

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-13 - CVE-2026-57796 published to NVD
2026-07-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-57796

Vulnerability Analysis

The Leedo theme processes user-supplied input and passes it into a PHP include or require statement without sufficient validation. This behavior classifies the issue under [CWE-98]. An attacker with low-privilege authenticated access can supply a crafted filename or path parameter. The PHP engine then loads the referenced file from the local filesystem and executes any PHP contained within it.

Because WordPress themes execute in the same context as the application, an included file inherits full application privileges. Attackers can target configuration files such as wp-config.php, log files, or previously uploaded media that contains embedded PHP payloads. When paired with a media upload or log poisoning technique, LFI often escalates to remote code execution.

The EPSS probability for CVE-2026-57796 is 0.496%, indicating a low but non-trivial likelihood of exploitation attempts in the near term.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or inadequate sanitization of a filename parameter before it reaches a PHP file inclusion function. The theme trusts request-controlled input to construct a filesystem path. There is no allow-list check, no canonicalization to reject traversal sequences, and no restriction to a fixed template directory.

Attack Vector

The attack occurs over the network against the WordPress HTTP endpoint exposed by the theme. The attacker needs low-level authenticated privileges on the target site. Exploitation complexity is high, meaning the attacker must satisfy specific conditions such as knowing internal paths or predictable file locations. No user interaction is required. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress instance.

The vulnerability is described in prose because no verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Patchstack Leedo Theme Vulnerability advisory for additional technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-57796

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Leedo theme endpoints containing path traversal sequences such as ../ or absolute paths like /etc/passwd and wp-config.php
Web server access logs showing repeated parameter values referencing PHP files outside the theme directory
Unexpected PHP errors referencing include() or require() failures in error_log output
New or modified PHP files under wp-content/uploads/ following suspicious authenticated sessions

Detection Strategies

Inspect access logs for query strings targeting theme files under wp-content/themes/leedo/ with file-path parameters
Deploy WordPress-aware web application firewall rules that block traversal patterns and non-theme file references in include parameters
Correlate authenticated low-privilege user activity with anomalous file access patterns on the web server

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable PHP open_basedir restrictions and log any violations to detect inclusion attempts against paths outside the WordPress root
Monitor filesystem integrity of wp-config.php, .htaccess, and files under wp-content/uploads/ for unauthorized reads or writes
Alert on outbound connections initiated by the PHP-FPM or web server process following suspicious inbound requests

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-57796

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Leedo theme on any WordPress site running version 3.0.0 or earlier until a patched release is confirmed
Restrict authenticated access by auditing low-privilege accounts and enforcing strong password and multi-factor authentication policies
Apply web application firewall rules that block path traversal and non-whitelisted file references in HTTP parameters targeting the theme

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the vendor advisory listed on Patchstack indicates the issue affects Leedo through version 3.0.0. Site administrators should monitor VLThemes distribution channels for a fixed release and apply it as soon as it becomes available.

Workarounds

Configure PHP open_basedir to constrain file inclusion to the WordPress installation directory only
Disable allow_url_include and confirm allow_url_fopen is disabled in php.ini to prevent remote inclusion escalation paths
Remove write permissions from web-accessible directories such as wp-content/uploads/ where feasible to reduce LFI-to-RCE pivots
Place the affected site behind a reverse proxy or WAF with strict rules blocking suspicious include parameters until a patch is applied

bash

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