CVE-2026-57788 in Aalto Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2026
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Edge-Themes Aalto aalto allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Aalto: from n/a through <= 1.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical improper control of filename for include/require statements in PHP applications, commonly known as PHP Remote File Inclusion or Local File Inclusion (LFI/RFI) vulnerabilities. This flaw occurs when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into PHP include or require statements without proper validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate the file inclusion process and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target server.
The specific vulnerability affects Edge-Themes Aalto theme versions from an unspecified starting point through version 1.8, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize filename parameters passed to PHP include functions. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the include statement by providing malicious file paths that can lead to local file inclusion attacks. The vulnerability stems from a lack of input validation and proper parameter sanitization in the theme's code implementation.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the PHP include mechanism by controlling the filename parameter that gets passed to the include or require functions. When the application processes user input without proper validation, an attacker can inject malicious file paths that may reference local files on the server or even remote files if the server configuration permits remote file inclusion. This creates a potential attack vector for executing arbitrary code, accessing sensitive files, or establishing persistence within the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected web server, access sensitive data, escalate privileges, and maintain persistent access to the compromised environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to read system files, access database credentials, upload malicious payloads, or even establish reverse shells. The vulnerability affects not only the specific theme but also poses a risk to the entire WordPress installation since themes are integral components of the web application stack.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-98 Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement and follows common patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1505.003 Server-side Template Injection and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter. The issue demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles for web application development and highlights the importance of implementing proper sanitization and validation mechanisms before processing user-supplied data in server-side code.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including patching to the latest available version of the Aalto theme, implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, disabling remote file inclusion in PHP configuration, and applying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious include patterns. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation as fundamental defense mechanisms against server-side injection attacks.