CVE-2026-22429 in Verdure Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2026
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Mikado-Themes Verdure verdure allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Verdure: from n/a through <= 1.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-22429 represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw within the Mikado-Themes Verdure theme, specifically affecting versions up to and including 1.6. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper control of filename for include/require statements, which is classified as CWE-98 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flaw manifests when the theme fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is subsequently used in PHP include or require statements, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the theme's code where user-controllable parameters are directly passed to PHP's include or require functions without adequate sanitization or validation. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating URL parameters or other input vectors to specify arbitrary file paths or URLs that will be included by the vulnerable PHP code. This creates a Local File Inclusion (LFI) attack vector that allows adversaries to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem or potentially execute malicious code if remote file inclusion is also enabled. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the fundamental PHP functionality of including external files, making it a common target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and system compromise. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to read sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, or other system files that may contain confidential information. Additionally, the LFI capability can be combined with other attack vectors to establish persistent access or deploy web shells on the compromised server. This vulnerability directly aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, T1078 for valid accounts, and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments, making it a significant threat to organizations running affected WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected theme to version 1.7 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters. Organizations should also implement proper input validation mechanisms at multiple layers, ensuring that any user-controllable input used in include/require statements undergoes strict sanitization before processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or suspicious include operations that may indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also review and restrict file inclusion permissions, disable remote file inclusion in PHP configurations, and maintain regular security audits of installed themes and plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry security standards to prevent such critical flaws from being introduced into web applications.