CVE-2025-69064 in Pets Land Theme Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/22/2026
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in AncoraThemes Pets Land petsland allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Pets Land: from n/a through <= 1.2.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2026
The CVE-2025-69064 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through improper control of filename parameters in include/require statements. This vulnerability specifically impacts the AncoraThemes Pets Land petsland WordPress theme, affecting versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.2.8. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the theme's PHP code where user-supplied parameters are directly used in include or require functions without proper security checks. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-98, which specifically addresses Improper Control of Code Generation Components, and more broadly aligns with CWE-88, which covers Command Injection vulnerabilities that can lead to similar remote code execution scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate parameters that are subsequently passed to PHP's include or require statements. In the context of the Pets Land theme, this typically involves manipulating URL parameters or POST data that gets processed by the theme's code to determine which files should be included. When these parameters are not properly validated or sanitized, an attacker can inject malicious file paths that point to remote servers hosting malicious PHP code. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal file access controls and execute arbitrary code on the target server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This flaw directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services to gain unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it can enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the web server process. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation, allowing attackers to access sensitive data, modify content, install backdoors, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate theme since WordPress themes are integral to the site's functionality, making this a critical security concern for any website using the affected version of the Pets Land theme. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, deploy malware, or use the compromised server for further attacks against other targets. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used WordPress theme increases the potential attack surface significantly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-69064 should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to the latest version of the Pets Land theme where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to prevent malicious parameters from reaching include/require statements, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized and validated before processing. The implementation of PHP's allow_url_include directive set to off provides an additional layer of protection by preventing remote file inclusion attacks. Security measures should include monitoring for suspicious file inclusion patterns in web server logs, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and conducting regular security audits of WordPress installations. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for web server processes and maintaining regular backups to facilitate quick recovery in case of successful exploitation. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the defensive coding principles recommended in the CERT Secure Coding Standards for PHP applications.