Arbitrary file upload in WordPress
CVE-2019-8942
WordPress before 4.9.9 and 5.x before 5.0.1 allows remote code execution because an _wp_attached_file Post Meta entry can be changed to an arbitrary string, such as one ending with a .jpg?file.php substring. An attacker with author privileges can execute arbitrary code by uploading a crafted image containing PHP code in the Exif metadata. Exploitation can leverage CVE-2019-8943.
Vulnerability class: Unrestricted File Upload
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 8.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.827 (99.7th percentile), scored .
High probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — patch promptly. 100th percentile — 99.7% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.927 · newest: 0.827 · change: -0.100
Affected products
- WordPress — versions 5.0
- Debian Linux — versions 9.0
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/9222 (Third Party Advisory)
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46511/ (Exploit, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, exploit)
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/107088 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
- blog.ripstech.com/2019/wordpress-image-remote-code-execution/ (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4401 (vendor-advisory, Third Party Advisory)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00044.html (mailing-list, Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/152396/WordPress-5.0.0-crop-image-Shell-Upload.ht… (Exploit, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
- www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/multi/http/wp_crop_rce (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46662/ (Exploit, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, exploit)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2019-8942?
- CVE-2019-8942 is a high-severity vulnerability in WordPress, classified under Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type. CVSS score: 8.8/10. Published 2019-02-20.
- How severe is CVE-2019-8942?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.8 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2019-8942 known to be exploited?
- 25 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.