CVE-2026-28049 in Police Department Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2026
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in ThemeREX Police Department police-department allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Police Department: from n/a through <= 2.17.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical improper control of filename for include/require statements in PHP applications, commonly classified as PHP Remote File Inclusion or Local File Inclusion. The flaw exists within the ThemeREX Police Department plugin where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into include/require statements without adequate sanitization or validation. This allows malicious actors to manipulate the inclusion process and potentially execute arbitrary code or access sensitive files on the server. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin from n/a through version 2.17, indicating a widespread issue affecting multiple iterations of the software. The root cause stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of file paths, creating a pathway for attackers to leverage the include functionality for unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of PHP's include/require functions where external input is concatenated directly into file paths without proper sanitization. When a user-supplied parameter is used in an include statement, an attacker can manipulate this parameter to point to malicious files stored remotely or local files on the server. This creates a scenario where the PHP interpreter will execute code from these unintended locations, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability falls under CWE-98 - Improper Control of Code Generation, and more specifically aligns with CWE-88 - Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command, though the primary classification relates to improper file inclusion handling. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, though more accurately it represents T1505.003 - Server Software Component: Web Shell, when combined with remote code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the target server, access database credentials, modify website content, or establish persistent backdoors. The local file inclusion aspect means that an attacker can potentially access sensitive files such as configuration files, database connection details, or other system files that contain privileged information. The plugin's inclusion mechanism provides a direct attack surface where the attacker can manipulate the PHP execution flow to include malicious payloads, effectively bypassing normal security controls. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by unauthenticated users, making it accessible to anyone with access to the affected website.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin versions, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization practices. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input used in include/require statements undergoes strict validation and sanitization before being processed. The recommended approach includes implementing a whitelist of allowed file paths, using absolute paths instead of relative paths, and avoiding dynamic inclusion of files based on user input. Additionally, implementing proper file access controls and restricting the web server's ability to include files from unauthorized directories can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can also provide additional layers of defense by monitoring for suspicious include patterns and blocking malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns in other components of the application stack, ensuring that the same vulnerability does not exist elsewhere in the codebase.