# CVE-2026-112851: ThemeREX Group HotLock PHP object injection

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112851-deserialization-of-untrusted-data-vulnerability-in-themerex  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-23. Updated: 2026-10-23  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-112851 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-10-23

HotLock is a WordPress theme that allows website customization and content management. An unauthenticated attacker can inject malicious PHP objects into the theme, allowing them to execute arbitrary code on the server. This could lead to complete website compromise, data theft, or deployment of malware.

Vendors: [ThemeREX Group](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/themerex-group).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-112851 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-112851 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-112851?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 23 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** ThemeREX Group HotLock up to 1.3.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-112851?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Apply Patchstack's mitigation rule to block attacks until an official patch is available. Disable or remove the HotLock theme if an alternative is available. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-112851 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-112851?** Check whether you run ThemeREX Group HotLock at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix


Apply Patchstack's mitigation rule to block attacks until an official patch is available. Disable or remove the HotLock theme if an alternative is available.

## Technical details

A PHP object injection vulnerability in HotLock versions up to 1.3.9 allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate deserialized data. The vulnerability enables arbitrary code execution on the server through gadget chain exploitation. No official patch is currently available; Patchstack has released a mitigation rule to block attacks.

## Affected products

- ThemeREX Group HotLock up to 1.3.9

## Timeline

- 2026-10-21: disclosed
- 2026-10-23: advisory

## References

- [https://themeforest.net/](https://themeforest.net/)
- [https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/theme/hotlock/vulnerability/wordpress-hotlock-theme-1-3-9-php-object-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve](https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/theme/hotlock/vulnerability/wordpress-hotlock-theme-1-3-9-php-object-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve)