CVE-2026-28027
Local File Inclusion Vulnerability in ThemeREX Kayon
Publication date: 2026-03-05
Last updated on: 2026-03-06
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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| Percentile: |
Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| themerex | kayon | to 1.3 (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
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
CVE-2026-28027 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the WordPress Kayon Theme versions up to and including 1.3. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit improper control of filename parameters in PHP include/require statements, enabling them to include and display local files from the target website.
The flaw falls under the OWASP Top 10 category A3: Injection, specifically classified as Local File Inclusion.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Exploiting this vulnerability can expose sensitive files on the affected website, such as those containing database credentials.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "This exposure could potentially lead to a complete database takeover depending on the site's configuration."}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "Since the vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access local files, it poses a high security risk to the confidentiality and integrity of the website's data."}] [1]
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
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 by exploiting improper control of filename parameters in the ThemeREX Kayon theme up to version 1.3.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'To detect exploitation attempts on your system or network, you can monitor web server logs for suspicious requests that include file inclusion patterns, such as URLs containing parameters with directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../) or attempts to include sensitive files like /etc/passwd or configuration files.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Example commands to search for such suspicious requests in Apache or Nginx access logs include:'}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': "grep -i 'include' /var/log/apache2/access.log"}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': "grep -E '\\.\\./|etc/passwd|config' /var/log/nginx/access.log"}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Additionally, you can use intrusion detection systems or web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect Local File Inclusion (LFI) attack patterns.'}] [1]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Since no official patch has been released yet for this Local File Inclusion vulnerability in the Kayon theme up to version 1.3, immediate mitigation is critical.
Users are strongly advised to implement the mitigation rule provided by Patchstack, which can block attacks exploiting this vulnerability until an official fix becomes available.
Additional immediate steps include:
- Applying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block LFI attack patterns.
- Restricting file permissions on the server to limit access to sensitive files.
- Monitoring server logs for suspicious activity and blocking offending IP addresses.
- If possible, temporarily disabling or replacing the vulnerable theme until a patch is released.