XSS in WordPress
CVE-2019-16781
In WordPress before 5.3.1, authenticated users with lower privileges (like contributors) can inject JavaScript code in the block editor, which is executed within the dashboard. It can lead to an admin opening the affected post in the editor leading to XSS.
Vulnerability class: XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 5.8 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.016 (75.0th percentile), scored .
Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 75th percentile — 75.0% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.014 · newest: 0.016 · change: +0.002
Affected products
- WordPress — versions < 5.3.1
- Debian Linux — versions 9.0, 10.0
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9976 (Third Party Advisory)
- wordpress.org/news/2019/12/wordpress-5-3-1-security-and-maintenance-release/ (Third Party Advisory, Release Notes)
- github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/security/advisories/GHSA-pg4x-64rh-3c9v (Third Party Advisory)
- hackerone.com/reports/731301 (Permissions Required, Third Party Advisory)
- seclists.org/bugtraq/2020/Jan/8 (mailing-list, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4599 (vendor-advisory, Third Party Advisory)
- www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4677 (vendor-advisory, Third Party Advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2019-16781?
- CVE-2019-16781 is a medium-severity vulnerability in WordPress, classified under Cross-site Scripting. CVSS score: 5.8/10. Published 2019-12-26.
- How severe is CVE-2019-16781?
- Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.8 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2019-16781 known to be exploited?
- 9 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.