# Wordpress Alert: Local file inclusion in themes

A theme selects a PHP template from untrusted input. A readable file outside the expected theme path may be included.

2026-07-27
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Switchboard Tech Services


![Wordpress Alert: Local file inclusion in themes](https://switchboardtechservices.com/static/images/defaults/guides.webp)

## What it looks like

A theme selects a PHP template from untrusted input.

## Why it matters

A readable file outside the expected theme path may be included.

## What to check

Review template selection and compare installed versions with advisories.

## Documentation

This is an exploit pattern to check in installed components, not a claim that every WordPress site has this flaw. Confirm the product and version against its advisories before treating a site as affected. See [OWASP path traversal reference](https://community.owasp.org/attacks/Path_Traversal), [WordPress 7.1.2 security release](https://wordpress.org/news/2026/09/wordpress-7-1-2-release/).

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  [WordPress](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/categories/wordpress/)
- Tags:
  [#WordPress Security](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/wordpress-security/), [#File Security](https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/tags/file-security/)

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/wordpress-alert-local-file-inclusion-in-themes/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-07-27T18:02:04+00:00

Description: A WordPress security alert about local file inclusion in themes: signs, impact, and what to check.