A security vulnerability has been disclosed in The Mane, a WordPress portfolio theme sold on ThemeForest. Tracked as CVE-2026-78478, the flaw affects all versions of the theme up to and including version 1.7 and allows an attacker with no account or login to include and execute arbitrary PHP files on the web server.
The vulnerability was published to the National Vulnerability Database and the GitHub Advisory Database on 25 August 2026. No patch has been released at the time of writing.
CVE-2026-78478: How the Mane Theme Lets Attackers Run Code Directly on Your Server
The flaw is classified as a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability, tracked under CWE-98. In practical terms: a part of the Mane theme accepts a filename as input and passes it to PHP’s file inclusion function without properly checking what file is being requested.
An attacker who exploits this can send a crafted web request that forces the server to load and execute a file of their choice. If that file contains PHP code, it runs with the full privileges of the web server process. This is not just a data leak. It is direct code execution on the server.
According to the GitHub Advisory Database entry for GHSA-h4m2-w2c9-4x9f, the attack is carried out over the network and requires no privileges and no user interaction. The CVSS vector rates the impact as High across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Every Mane Theme Installation on Version 1.7 or Earlier Is Exposed Right Now
Any WordPress website running the Mane theme on version 1.7 or earlier is directly affected. The advisory states the vulnerability exists in “all versions up to, and including, 1.7” with no patched version listed.
Sites that accept file uploads face a particularly serious risk. LFI vulnerabilities become full remote code execution paths when an attacker can upload a file containing embedded PHP code and then use the LFI flaw to trigger its execution. An image file, for example, can conceal PHP instructions that run the moment the server is tricked into including it.
Even without file uploads, LFI can expose sensitive server-side files including WordPress configuration files that contain database credentials, authentication keys, and internal paths.
No Patch Released and No Authentication Needed: What Makes This Harder to Dismiss
The CVSS vector for CVE-2026-78478 assigns High impact across all three security dimensions: confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (file and site modification), and availability (potential to take the site offline). The combination puts this flaw at the top of the risk stack for affected sites.
Two factors elevate the urgency beyond a typical theme flaw. First, the attack requires no account, no login, and no trusted position on the site. Any anonymous user on the internet can attempt to exploit it. Second, there is no fix available. The advisory lists the patched version as “Unknown,” which means no remediation has been published by the theme developer.
LFI vulnerabilities in WordPress themes and plugins have historically been exploited within days of public disclosure when no patch is available.
How to Protect Your WordPress Site From CVE-2026-78478 Right Now
If your website uses the Mane WordPress theme, take these steps immediately:
- Check your installed theme version by going to your WordPress dashboard under Appearance > Themes. Version 1.7 or lower means you are vulnerable.
- Switch to a different active theme as a temporary measure if you cannot immediately replace Mane. Deactivating the vulnerable theme removes the attack surface from your live site while you wait for a patch.
- Disable any file upload functionality on the site until a fix is released. Attackers who can upload files and trigger LFI have a direct path to full code execution.
- Apply an LFI blocking rule through a Web Application Firewall (WAF). Wordfence, Cloudflare, and Sucuri all have LFI detection rules that can block exploitation attempts at the network level before they reach your WordPress install.
- Audit your site for signs of compromise, including unexpected PHP requests in server logs, new administrator accounts, or modified theme files. These are indicators of a successful or attempted exploit.
Watch the Wordfence Advisory and ThemeForest Listing for the Official Patch
No official fix from the Mane theme developer has been announced at the time of writing. The advisory lists both the affected and patched versions as “Unknown,” suggesting the vulnerability may still be in early stages of vendor response.
Wordfence maintains a detailed entry for CVE-2026-78478 and is likely to update it as the situation progresses. WordPress site owners using Mane should also enable update notifications through ThemeForest. The public disclosure of an unpatched, unauthenticated LFI flaw creates significant pressure on the theme developer to release a fix quickly.
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