Local File Inclusion in Cobble theme (≤ 1.7) — What WordPress Site Owners Must Do Now

On 11 February 2026 a critical Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Cobble WordPress theme (versions ≤ 1.7) was assigned CVE-2025-69399. This vulnerability can allow unauthenticated attackers to include and display local files from the web server in certain configurations. The impact ranges from information disclosure (for example, wp-config.php containing database credentials) to full site compromise depending on server configuration and available files.

This advisory is written in the tone of a Hong Kong security practitioner: direct, practical and focused on immediate actions you can take to reduce risk. The guidance is vendor-neutral and intended for site owners, developers and hosting teams.

执行摘要（简短）

• Vulnerability: Local File Inclusion (LFI) in Cobble theme ≤ 1.7 — CVE-2025-69399.
• Risk: High (CVSS 8.1) — unauthenticated attacker can read local files; in some setups this leads to credential disclosure and remote compromise.
• Status: No official theme update available at time of public disclosure (treat as vulnerable until vendor patch is verified).
• Immediate mitigations: Remove or deactivate the theme if not required; restrict access to vulnerable code paths using server-level controls or a WAF/virtual patch; review logs for abuse.
• Longer-term: Apply the official theme patch once published, rotate secrets if sensitive files were exposed, and perform a post-incident review.

什么是本地文件包含 (LFI)？

Local File Inclusion occurs when an application allows user-controlled input to influence a file include or file read operation without proper validation or sanitisation. An LFI vulnerability can allow an attacker to:

• Read arbitrary files from the filesystem that the web server user can access (configuration files, backups, logs).
• Leak secrets such as database credentials (e.g., wp-config.php), API tokens, or private keys.
• In some cases, chain with other vulnerabilities to achieve remote code execution and full compromise.

LFI often appears in PHP applications where include/require/file_get_contents or similar functions are used with insufficient filtering.

Why Cobble theme LFI is serious for WordPress sites

• 未认证： No login required—attackers can probe and exploit remotely.
• Widely scanned: WordPress sites are common targets; public unauthenticated LFI disclosures are rapidly scanned en masse.
• High-value targets: Typical PHP processes can read wp-config.php, plugin/theme files and other sensitive resources.
• No immediate upstream fix: When no official patch exists at disclosure, configuration hardening and virtual patching are the best short-term defences.

What we know about CVE-2025-69399 (public disclosure details)

• Product: Cobble WordPress theme
• Affected versions: ≤ 1.7
• Classification: Local File Inclusion (LFI)
• CVE: CVE-2025-69399
• CVSS: 8.1
• Reported: public disclosure on 11 Feb 2026

If your site runs Cobble ≤ 1.7 — or a child theme inheriting vulnerable code — treat it as vulnerable until verified otherwise.

How to determine whether your site is affected

1. Confirm the active theme:
   • WordPress admin: Appearance → Themes.
   • Or check the filesystem: look for wp-content/themes/cobble (or similarly named folder).
2. Check the theme version:
   • Open wp-content/themes/cobble/style.css and look for the Version: header.
   • If the version is ≤ 1.7, treat as vulnerable.
3. Child themes: If you use a child theme, verify whether the parent contains the vulnerable code or a modified copy with the same pattern.
4. Unused but present: Even inactive themes on disk can be risky depending on hosting and file-serving configuration—consider removing unused themes from disk.

High-level safe detection (do not run exploit code)

Do not execute public proof-of-concept exploits on production systems. Instead:

• Review webserver and application logs for suspicious GET requests containing path traversal patterns like ../ or encoded equivalents, or query parameters such as ?file=, ?page=, ?template=.
• Look for 200 responses that appear to contain configuration data or other sensitive file contents.
• Use a reputable site scanner or manual code review to identify LFI indicators without triggering exploits.

If you find evidence of probing or exploitation, assume possible data exposure and follow the incident response checklist below.

Typical vulnerable coding pattern (what causes LFI)

Vulnerable code often concatenates unsanitised user input into file paths. Example of the common problematic pattern:

// vulnerable example (do not copy into production)
if ( isset( $_GET['template'] ) ) {
    include( get_template_directory() . '/' . $_GET['template'] );
}

The issue is direct use of $_GET['template'] without validation. An attacker can supply ../ sequences to traverse directories and include arbitrary files.

A safer approach uses whitelisting/validation:

$allowed = array( 'home.php', 'about.php', 'contact.php' );
$template = basename( $_GET['template'] ?? '' );
if ( in_array( $template, $allowed, true ) ) {
    include get_template_directory() . '/' . $template;
} else {
    include get_template_directory() . '/home.php';
}

Immediate mitigations you should apply today

If you run Cobble ≤ 1.7, apply a defence-in-depth approach immediately:

1. Inventory and isolate:
   • If the theme is not required, delete wp-content/themes/cobble/ from the filesystem.
   • If you must keep it active, consider replacing it with a secure alternative or isolating the site behind stricter controls.
2. Restrict access at the server level:
   • Deny direct access to PHP files under theme directories that should not be executed directly.
   • Block access to any specific vulnerable file paths using webserver rules (nginx/Apache) or host-level controls.
3. 应用虚拟补丁/WAF规则：
   • Use a web application firewall or filtering layer to block directory traversal and file-name based requests targeting sensitive files.
   • Rules should block parameter values containing ../ and encoded equivalents, block requests for key filenames (e.g., wp-config.php, .env) and rate-limit repeated attempts.
4. Increase log visibility:
   • Enable more verbose webserver and application logging temporarily to detect probing and provide evidence if needed.
5. Rotate credentials if exposure is suspected:
   • If logs indicate wp-config.php or other sensitive files were accessed, rotate database passwords and API keys immediately.
6. 修补：
   • Apply the official theme update when it is published; test in staging before production.

How virtual patching protects you (vendor-neutral)

Virtual patching means blocking the exploit vectors at the web application layer so the vulnerable code is never reached. This is a practical emergency measure while waiting for an upstream fix.

Example rule concepts (vendor-neutral) to deploy in a WAF or server filter:

1. Block directory traversal in request parameters
   • 检测 ../, %2e%2e%2f and similar encodings (case-insensitive) in GET/POST parameters and block.
2. Block requests targeting key filenames in parameters
   • Block parameter values matching wp-config.php, .env, .git/config, id_rsa, 等等。.
3. Whitelist known valid tokens for theme endpoints
   • For known theme endpoints, restrict allowed parameter values to a small, explicit set.
4. Rate limiting and progressive throttling
   • Apply challenge or block after repeated suspicious attempts from the same source to reduce scanning effectiveness.
5. Block suspicious file extensions in parameters
   • Prevent values containing .php or other executable extensions in parameters where these are not expected.

Example pseudo-rule (illustrative):

IF request.params.* CONTAINS_PATTERN "(?:\.\./|%2e%2e%2f|%5c%2e%5c%2e%5c%2f)"
 OR request.params.* MATCHES "(?i)(wp-config\.php|\.env|\.git/config|id_rsa|config\.php)"
THEN BLOCK request WITH 403
LOG details=headers,params,ip

Practical hardening checklist for WordPress sites

• Remove unused themes and plugins from disk (do not leave them deactivated on disk).
• Harden file permissions: files 644, folders 755 as a baseline; restrict wp-config.php to 600/640 where hosting allows.
• Disable PHP execution in upload directories (example Apache .htaccess provided below).
• Disable directory indexing: Options -Indexes.
• Restrict direct access to theme/plugin PHP files that are not intended entry points.
• Where possible, move wp-config.php above webroot and use environment variables for secrets.

Example Apache snippet to disable PHP execution in uploads:

# Disable PHP execution in uploads
<FilesMatch "\.php$">
  deny from all
</FilesMatch>

Incident response playbook — if you suspect compromise

1. 控制： Apply WAF rules to block the LFI vector and temporarily block suspicious IPs while investigating.
2. 保留证据： Preserve webserver and application logs, snapshot the filesystem if a serious breach is suspected.
3. 评估范围： Look for signs of credential exfiltration, unexpected files, or webshells under wp-content/uploads 或主题/插件目录中的PHP或意外文件。.
4. 修复： Rotate credentials (DB, API keys), reinstall WordPress core/themes/plugins from trusted sources, and restore from a clean backup if required.
5. Eradicate persistence: Remove webshells, scheduled tasks, or attacker-created admin users.
6. 恢复： Harden the site and monitor closely; consider a rebuild in severe cases.
7. 事件后： Review logs to build the attack timeline and improve detection/response processes.

监控和日志记录建议

• Enable and retain detailed logging: access logs, PHP-FPM logs, application logs.
• Centralise logs if you manage multiple sites and set alerts for suspicious patterns.
• Alert on repeated 200 responses that include sensitive filenames or on requests containing path traversal sequences.
• Use integrity monitoring to detect modified theme/plugin files and unexpected file creations.
• Review WordPress user registrations and privilege changes for suspicious activity.

Testing and false-positive management

• Test WAF rules in a staging environment first.
• Use allowlists for trusted admin IPs to avoid blocking legitimate users.
• Monitor logs after deploying stricter rules and adjust to reduce false positives while maintaining protection.

Communication with clients and stakeholders

• Be proactive — inform clients and stakeholders that a public LFI issue was disclosed and what steps you’ve taken to protect them.
• Provide a clear timeline for remediation and any expected service impacts.
• Document actions taken and recommended next steps (patching, credential rotation, heightened monitoring).

When the official patch is released

1. Apply the update in staging and run functional tests.
2. Verify the patch fixes the vulnerable code path (input validation/whitelisting added).
3. Deploy to production during a maintenance window with monitoring enabled.
4. Once the patch is verified, retire any emergency WAF rules that are no longer required.

Why virtual patching is important now

• Official fixes can take time to be released and vetted.
• Virtual patching reduces attack surface immediately without altering production theme files.
• It is a reversible and controlled step while waiting for a tested upstream fix.

Sample WAF rule considerations (for technical teams)

• Block plain or encoded directory traversal in query strings and request bodies.
• Block parameter values equal to known sensitive filenames.
• Block double extensions or suspicious encoding sequences.
• Whitelist known valid tokens for theme-specific parameters.

Implement these with contextual checks (headers, referrer, user agent, rate and source reputation) to reduce false alerts.

Post-breach: rotate what matters

If you find evidence of successful reads of sensitive config files:

• Rotate the DB user password referenced in wp-config.php.
• Generate new API keys for services (payment gateways, email providers).
• Reissue any tokens or secrets stored on the site.
• If SSH keys were exposed, reissue and disable compromised keys.

常见问题解答（FAQ）

Q: I don’t use the Cobble theme — do I need to do anything?

A: If the theme directory is not present, you are not vulnerable to this specific issue. Still ensure your installed themes and plugins are up to date and remove unused packages.

Q: Can a site owner test whether the vulnerability is present?

A: You can check theme version and code for vulnerable patterns. Avoid running public proof-of-concept exploits on production; use a staging environment if necessary.

Q: If I am using a child theme, am I affected?

A: Yes — if the child theme inherits vulnerable parent code or includes the vulnerable template code. Check the parent theme version and files.

Q: What should I do if I find suspicious logs or files?

A: Follow the incident response playbook above: contain, preserve evidence, assess, remediate (credential rotation, remove malicious files), and recover.

需要帮助吗？

If you require hands-on assistance, engage a qualified security professional, your hosting provider, or an incident response team experienced in WordPress security. Request immediate emergency containment (WAF rules and log preservation) and an investigation to assess scope and advise remediation.

Final notes — practical next steps (short checklist)

• Inventory: Check if your site uses Cobble theme (≤ 1.7).
• Containment: If vulnerable and not required, delete the theme from disk or deactivate it and block related endpoints.
• Virtual patching: Deploy WAF or server filters to block LFI patterns immediately.
• Logs: Increase log retention and review for suspicious activity.
• Secrets: If exposure is suspected, rotate DB and API credentials.
• Patch: Apply the official theme patch when available and test in staging.
• Post-incident: Review and strengthen processes to reduce time-to-mitigation for future disclosures.

Stay vigilant and act promptly — unauthenticated LFI is a high-risk issue and should be treated with urgency.

— 香港安全专家