Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-22496 affects the WordPress Hypnotherapy theme by AncoraThemes through version 1.2.10. It may let an unauthenticated attacker include local files through unsafe PHP file handling, potentially exposing sensitive data or affecting site integrity. Public sources rate it high severity, but do not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority WordPress exposure review. It is not confirmed as actively exploited, but unauthenticated network reachability and high potential impact justify fast inventory, vendor-checking, and remediation planning.
Technical view
The issue is described as improper control of a filename used in PHP include/require logic, mapped to CWE-98. CVSS 3.1 is 8.1: network-accessible, unauthenticated, no user interaction, high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but high attack complexity. Sources describe Local File Inclusion despite the CWE title referencing Remote File Inclusion.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with the AncoraThemes Hypnotherapy theme installed at version 1.2.10 or earlier. The source bundle does not clarify whether inactive installations are exploitable, so inventory both active and installed copies.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV is false in the provided data, and no cited source confirms exploitation in the wild. The vulnerability is network-reachable and unauthenticated, but exploitation complexity is rated high, suggesting practical exploitation may depend on site-specific conditions.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to CVE and Patchstack-style database information. No public exploit details, affected code path, fixed version, or vendor advisory are included in the provided sources. Note the inconsistency between CWE-98/RFI wording and the stated Local File Inclusion impact.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all WordPress sites using the Hypnotherapy theme.
- Check AncoraThemes and Patchstack for a fixed version or vendor guidance.
- Update the theme if a patched release is available.
- If no fix is available, consider disabling or removing the theme.
- Restrict administrative access and maintain current WordPress backups.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed Hypnotherapy theme versions across WordPress assets.
- Prioritize any site running version 1.2.10 or earlier.
- Check whether the theme is active or merely installed.
- Review web logs for suspicious file-include probing patterns.
- Monitor vendor and vulnerability database updates for remediation details.
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-2026-22496 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.