Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-28012 affects the ThemeREX Gridiron WordPress theme through version 1.0.14. It is a local file inclusion issue that may let an unauthenticated remote attacker make the site include unintended local files. The CVSS score is high at 8.1, but exploitation is rated high complexity. No provided source confirms active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority website exposure if your organization uses the Gridiron theme. The issue can threaten confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but current public evidence does not show active exploitation. Prioritize confirmation of use and vendor remediation status.
Technical view
The CVE describes CWE-98: improper control of a filename used in a PHP include/require statement. The vector is AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The public description states Gridiron versions through 1.0.14 are affected. The source bundle does not name a fixed version or vendor patch.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the ThemeREX Gridiron theme at version 1.0.14 or earlier. Sites not using this theme are not indicated as affected. The bundle’s affected-version metadata is inconsistent, so verify against the CVE text and Patchstack entry.
Exploitation context
The vulnerability is remotely reachable and requires no authentication or user interaction, but the CVSS vector marks attack complexity as high. CISA KEV status is false in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation or public exploit availability.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Patchstack database reference. The CVE text says versions through 1.0.14 are affected, while the structured affected field in the bundle is sparse and potentially inconsistent. No patch version, exploit details, or exploitation-in-the-wild evidence is provided.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the ThemeREX Gridiron theme and record installed versions.
- Check ThemeREX and Patchstack guidance for an updated fixed version or vendor remediation.
- If no fix is available, remove or disable the theme where business impact allows.
- Prioritize backups and least-privilege file permissions for affected WordPress hosts.
- Monitor affected sites for unusual file access and PHP include-related errors.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Gridiron is installed, active, or present but unused.
- Verify the installed theme version against the affected range: through 1.0.14.
- Review vendor and Patchstack pages for current patch status before closing risk.
- Check web server and WordPress logs for suspicious file inclusion patterns.
- Document compensating controls if the theme cannot be removed or updated.
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-2026-28012 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.