CVE-2026-22436
Local File Inclusion Vulnerability in Helvig Theme
Publication date: 2026-03-05
Last updated on: 2026-03-09
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| elated-themes | helvig | to 1.0 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-98 | The PHP application receives input from an upstream component, but it does not restrict or incorrectly restricts the input before its usage in "require," "include," or similar functions. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to the exposure of sensitive files on the server, including database credentials.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "Depending on the website's configuration, an attacker could potentially take over the entire database."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'This represents a high risk to the confidentiality and integrity of your website and its data.'}] [1]
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
CVE-2026-22436 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability found in the WordPress Helvig Theme versions up to and including 1.0.
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the PHP program to include and display local files from the target website.
As a result, sensitive information such as database credentials can be exposed.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to include and display local files from the target website, which can be detected by monitoring for suspicious HTTP requests attempting to exploit Local File Inclusion (LFI) patterns.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Common detection methods include inspecting web server logs for requests containing file inclusion patterns such as "?file=", "?include=", or directory traversal sequences like "../".'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Example commands to detect potential exploitation attempts on a Linux system include:'}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': 'grep -iE "(\\?file=|\\?include=|\\.\\./)" /var/log/apache2/access.log'}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': 'tail -f /var/log/apache2/access.log | grep -i "include"'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Additionally, using web application firewalls (WAF) with rules targeting LFI patterns can help detect and block exploitation attempts.'}] [1]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Since no official patch is currently available for this vulnerability, immediate mitigation involves applying the Patchstack mitigation rule designed to block attacks targeting this flaw.
Other recommended steps include:
- Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block Local File Inclusion attempts.
- Restrict file inclusion functions and validate user inputs rigorously to prevent malicious file paths.
- Monitor web server logs for suspicious activity and respond promptly to any detected exploitation attempts.
Ultimately, update the Helvig theme to a patched version once it becomes available to fully resolve the vulnerability.