CVE-2026-27337 in Chronicle Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2026
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in AncoraThemes Chronicle - Lifestyle Magazine & Blog WordPress Theme chronicle allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Chronicle - Lifestyle Magazine & Blog WordPress Theme: from n/a through <= 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2026
The CVE-2026-27337 vulnerability represents a critical PHP Remote File Inclusion flaw in the AncoraThemes Chronicle WordPress theme, specifically targeting the theme's handling of include/require statements. This vulnerability stems from improper validation of filename parameters passed to PHP's include or require functions, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate file inclusion directives to execute arbitrary code on the target server. The flaw exists within the theme's codebase where user-supplied input is directly concatenated into include paths without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms, making it susceptible to path traversal and remote code execution attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the theme's failure to properly validate or sanitize user input before passing it to PHP's include/require functions. When a malicious user submits a crafted filename parameter through theme options or configuration interfaces, the system processes this input without proper filtering, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary local or remote file paths. This weakness directly maps to CWE-98, which describes improper control of code execution, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 for server-side includes and T1059.007 for scripting languages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the PHP level where file inclusion functions can execute code from any accessible file, potentially allowing attackers to load malicious PHP scripts from remote servers or local files on the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to the web server, potentially leading to data breaches, defacement, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Chronicle theme up to and including version 1.0, indicating that the flaw has existed for some time without proper mitigation. The attack surface is broad as it can be exploited through multiple entry points within the WordPress theme's functionality, including theme customization panels, widget configurations, or even user-generated content processing that may involve file inclusion operations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to theme customization features or where the theme is used in high-traffic blog environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-27337 require immediate action to address the root cause through proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data before it is processed by PHP include/require functions. The recommended approach involves implementing strict whitelisting of allowed file paths and using absolute path resolution instead of relative paths when including files. Security patches should be applied immediately to update the Chronicle theme to a version that properly validates and sanitizes input parameters. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious include/require patterns, and conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other PHP applications. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and monitoring for unauthorized file inclusion attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly when dealing with dynamic file operations in PHP applications, and underscores the need for regular security assessments of third-party WordPress themes and plugins.