CVE-2026-22509
Local File Inclusion Vulnerability in Elated-Themes Gioia
Publication date: 2026-03-25
Last updated on: 2026-04-23
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
| Probability: | |
| Percentile: |
Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| elated-themes | gioia | to 1.4 (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 does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the WordPress Gioia Theme allows attackers to access and display sensitive files from the target website, potentially exposing confidential information such as database credentials.
Exposure of sensitive data due to this vulnerability could lead to violations of data protection regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which require safeguarding personal and sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Therefore, exploitation of this vulnerability may compromise compliance with these common standards and regulations by failing to adequately protect sensitive data.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
The 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.
While no specific detection commands are provided, network administrators can look for unusual URL parameters or requests containing file path traversal sequences (e.g., ../) targeting the Gioia theme endpoints.
Additionally, applying the mitigation rule provided by Patchstack can help block exploit attempts and serve as an indicator of attack attempts in logs.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Immediate mitigation steps include applying the Patchstack mitigation rule designed to block attacks exploiting this Local File Inclusion vulnerability.
Users are strongly advised to update the affected Gioia theme to a version beyond 1.4 once available or seek assistance from their hosting provider or web developer to implement protective measures.
Since no official patch is currently available, using the mitigation rule and monitoring for exploit attempts are critical to reduce risk until a patch can be safely applied.
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
CVE-2026-22509 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability found in the WordPress Gioia Theme versions up to and including 1.4. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to include and display local files from the target website by exploiting improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements.
By exploiting this flaw, attackers can access sensitive files on the server, such as configuration files or database credentials, which can lead to further compromise of the website.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can have severe impacts including unauthorized access to sensitive information like database credentials. Depending on the website's configuration, exploitation could lead to a complete database takeover.
Because it is a high-risk vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.1, it is likely to be targeted in mass-exploit campaigns, putting many websites at risk regardless of their traffic or popularity.
No official patch is currently available, so affected users must rely on mitigation rules or seek assistance to reduce the risk.