Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-28057 affects the WordPress Mandala theme by ThemeREX through version 2.8. It can allow local file inclusion, which may expose or execute sensitive server-side files. The CVSS score is 8.1, but attack complexity is rated high. No provided source confirms active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize review of internet-facing WordPress sites using Mandala. Treat confirmed affected deployments as high priority because successful exploitation could impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but current evidence does not confirm exploitation in the wild.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-98: improper control of a filename in a PHP include/require statement, resulting in PHP local file inclusion. The CVSS vector is AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating unauthenticated network reachability with high potential impact if exploited.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites using the ThemeREX Mandala theme version 2.8 or earlier. Sites not using this theme are not indicated as affected by the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The CVSS data indicates exploitation may be possible remotely without authentication or user interaction, but with high attack complexity. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The source bundle has limited remediation detail. It states Mandala through 2.8 is affected, while the affected object also contains an ambiguous versions value of “0” and defaultStatus “unaffected.” Validate against the CVE record and Patchstack entry before drawing version-range conclusions.
Mitigation direction
- Identify any WordPress sites using ThemeREX Mandala theme version 2.8 or earlier.
- Check ThemeREX, Patchstack, and WordPress admin guidance for an official fixed version or advisory.
- If no fix is available, consider disabling or removing the theme until guidance is confirmed.
- Back up the site before theme changes and test compatibility in staging where possible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress themes across production and staging sites.
- Confirm installed Mandala theme version from WordPress admin or asset inventory.
- Review web and PHP logs for suspicious file-include errors or unusual file access patterns.
- Monitor vendor and Patchstack pages for updated 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-2026-28057 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.