high CVSS 7.5 EPSS 0.42%

CVE-2025-32154·PHP vulnerability

Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP Remote File Inclusion') vulnerability in Catch Themes Catch Dark Mode catch-dark-mode allows PHP Local File Inclusion.This issue affects Catch Dark Mode: from n/a through <= 2.0.1.

Severity
high
Software
PHP
Fixed in
2.1
Published

How likely is exploitation

FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.42% — higher than 62% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.

Read the two together. CVE-2025-32154 scores 7.5 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.42%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.

Affected versions

Until: 2.1

Fixed in: 2.1

How to fix this CVE

Update the Catch Dark Mode WordPress plugin to version 2.1 or later to patch the local file inclusion vulnerability. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the server by manipulating include/require statements. Immediately audit your WordPress installation for the vulnerable plugin and apply the security update without delay.

sudo dnf update php

Defensia detects this vulnerability

What an exploitation attempt looks like

Sample log line indicative of exploitation attempts:

POST/GET requests to wp-admin or plugin endpoints containing suspicious file path patterns such as: /catch-dark-mode.*?include.*?(\.\./|/etc/|/var/|php://|file://)

WAF mitigation (if patching is not yet possible)

Add this rule to your WAF to block exploitation attempts while you schedule the patch. 

Block requests to /wp-content/plugins/catch-dark-mode/ endpoints containing file path traversal sequences (../, /etc/, /proc/) or wrapper protocols (php://, file://, data://). Implement strict input validation on any plugin parameters that interact with file operations.

How to check if you are affected

  1. Check installed PHP version: php -v
  2. Verify WordPress plugin version: grep -r 'Version:' /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/catch-dark-mode/catch-dark-mode.php | head -1
  3. Search web server access logs for suspicious file inclusion patterns: grep -i 'catch.*dark.*mode' /var/log/apache2/access.log or /var/log/nginx/access.log
  4. Confirm plugin is fully updated by checking WordPress admin panel Plugins > Installed Plugins and verifying Catch Dark Mode shows version 2.1 or later with no update notices

FAQ

What is CVE-2025-32154?

CVE-2025-32154 is a local file inclusion vulnerability in the Catch Dark Mode WordPress plugin that allows authenticated users to read sensitive files from the server through improper handling of file include/require statements. An attacker with login credentials could exploit this to access configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive data.

Is CVE-2025-32154 being actively exploited?

No, this vulnerability is not currently listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are publicly available, though administrators should still prioritize patching due to the high CVSS score of 7.5.

What versions of PHP are affected by CVE-2025-32154?

CVE-2025-32154 affects the Catch Dark Mode WordPress plugin through version 2.0.1; the vulnerability is fixed in version 2.1 and later. This is a plugin vulnerability, not a PHP core issue, though PHP installations running affected WordPress sites are impacted.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2025-32154?

Run: grep -r 'Version:' /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/catch-dark-mode/catch-dark-mode.php to check the plugin version. If it returns a version number ≤ 2.0.1, your installation is vulnerable and requires immediate update to version 2.1 or later.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2025-32154?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If PHP and WordPress plugins are monitored on your server, CVE-2025-32154 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

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References

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