Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-22381 affects the PawFriends WordPress theme for pet shop and veterinary sites, versions up to 1.3. A file inclusion flaw could let an unauthenticated remote attacker access or manipulate server-side files under certain conditions. Public sources rate it high severity, but do not confirm active exploitation or a fixed version.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority WordPress theme risk for any site using PawFriends. Prioritize confirmation and remediation, but avoid emergency claims unless your environment uses the theme or new evidence shows exploitation.
Technical view
The issue is improper control of a filename used in PHP include/require logic, mapped to CWE-98. Patchstack describes PHP Local File Inclusion in Mikado-Themes PawFriends through version 1.3. CVSS 3.1 is 8.1 with AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites with the PawFriends theme installed, especially internet-facing sites running version 1.3 or earlier. The provided sources do not identify other affected products or plugins.
Exploitation context
No CISA KEV listing or cited source confirms active exploitation. The vulnerability is public in CVE and Patchstack records. The CVSS vector indicates remote, unauthenticated exploitation without user interaction, but with high attack complexity.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to CVE metadata and Patchstack’s vulnerability entry. Sources do not name a patched version, proof-of-concept, exploit campaign, or detailed vulnerable endpoint. Validate locally through asset inventory and version checks rather than assuming broad WordPress exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the PawFriends theme and record installed versions.
- Prioritize sites running PawFriends version 1.3 or earlier.
- Check Patchstack and vendor channels for confirmed update or remediation guidance.
- If no fix is available, consider replacing or removing the affected theme.
- Apply normal WordPress hardening and backup practices while remediation is pending.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether PawFriends is installed, active, or present but unused.
- Verify the theme version against the affected range through version 1.3.
- Review web logs for unusual requests involving theme files or include-related parameters.
- Check whether any vendor or Patchstack update changes the affected-version guidance.
- Document remediation status for every site using the theme.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-98: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-22381 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion')
Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.